Do you experience pain, aches, or stiffness in your upper back, shoulders, and neck? Do you have a desk job or are you a student, or someone who spends a lot of time in front of a computer or television? Do you feel slouchy or like there is pressure on your shoulder and neck area that you cannot relieve? It could be due to poor posture! According to Wikipedia, “Poor posture is the posture that results from certain muscles tightening up or shortening while others lengthen and become weak which often occurs as a result of one’s daily activities… Risk factors for poor posture also include psychosocial factors such as job stress and strain. Workers who have higher job stress are more likely to develop neck and shoulder symptoms.” While many of us have experienced injury or affliction that causes this pain, it can be caused or exacerbated by poor posture. Logging several hours every day in front of a screen while slouching or holding your neck in an uncomfortable position can create problems. One great way to relieve the pain and get started on fixing the problem is to do activities and exercises that elongate and align your spine. Social ballroom dancing, from Swing dancing to Salsa or even Country dancing does just that!

Ballroom dancing requires you to lengthen your torso, hold your head high, and constantly maintain good posture. Your frame in ballroom dance is very precise and your instructor will remind you if your posture needs fixing. They will also give you exercises and practices to do if you are still struggling, which is why giving dance lessons a try will get your poor posture nipped in no time!

With three months of dance lessons, you may see improved flexibility in your spine as well. This flexibility and proper alignment can even help ease or erase that upper back/neck pain you have been feeling. Strengthening your core muscles is vital to easing or fixing back pain, and dance lessons are a great workout for your core. You will constantly be shifting your weight, changing direction, and moving every part of your body, which will not only strengthen your core but also tone other areas of your body!

Stress relief is another well-known benefit of social ballroom dance lessons that will also ease your pain. The tension and stress from work, school, relationships, and life in general can manifest as physical tension in your neck, back, and shoulders. Physical exercise is a great stress reliever, which you can get through dance. Participating in activities that take your mind off of the stressors in your life is also important; dance lessons will require you mind and body to be in the moment on the dance floor. What better way to distract yourself?

Once you start to notice that you are not only applying your new posture to dancing, but also into your daily life, is when you have truly experienced the wonders of dance. You will start to notice that your body presence, appearance, and balance have improved as well. It will take some time and continual reminding during the initial learning phase, but you will get it! The confidence you discover with dance lessons is also another benefit that will have you holding your head high and facing the world with your shoulders back and tall.

 Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona is the perfect place for you to get started bettering yourself – posture included! To see just how much dance can do for you, schedule an Introductory Lesson. You will get out on the floor and begin your dancing journey, as well as discuss what your goals and reasons are for learning to dance. There is no better time than now to start dance lessons. Your back will thank you! Contact us now for more information on how to begin your dancing journey…