As we age, there are many things to look forward to; maturation, increased confidence and retirement are just a few. But not often will you look forward to aging itself. In fact, many people spend a good portion of their lives trying to prevent or reverse it.

Little did they know that we might be able to stop time in its tracks… with Tango? It’s true! Not only Tango, but dancing in general has been shown to help slow the aging process. In the last two decades the rate of disability among older people has declined dramatically. Much of this decline can be contributed to the encouragement of a more active way of life. Exercise (along with a healthy diet) is the most recommended lifestyle change in order to prevent premature aging.

How you might ask? In fact, there are many ways in which dancing can improve your overall health. Regular exercise keeps the skin firm, improves skin elasticity and promotes an overall beautiful glow. Building muscle also helps prevent osteoporosis, especially in women, and arthritis can be prevented (or lessened) through regular aerobics as well. Even thin people need exercise—for they can suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease too.

Harvard itself recommends 30 minutes daily aerobic activity to keep muscle tone, heart-lung fitness, decrease the chance for type II diabetes, and to ward off many different types of cancer.

Most importantly, the dance exercise truly needs to become part of a regular routine in order to be effective. The more you practice, the more you will be able to slow down the aging process. Practice makes perfect, right? Find a regular routine of and stick with it if you want to fight against aging.

So dance and dance often!