Ladies: DANCING fights this aging “annoyance”?!

I’ll admit it…

Movies and musicals with DANCING are one of my guilty pleasures.

I’ll take a happy-go-lucky movie with a good dancing scene any day of the week!

And I have to rank the movie Grease as my all-time favorite “dancing” movie…

Specifically, when Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta’s respective characters Sandy and Danny sing and dance to the unforgettable song “You’re the One That I Want.”

But today we’re not reviewing movies…

I am here to tell you that if you’re into dancing, it can help you fight one of the most aggravating parts of getting older…

A study from the North American Menopause Society has found that DANCING can help postmenopausal women LOWER cholesterol levels, IMPROVE their overall fitness, LOSE weight, and BOOST self-esteem.

This is important because studies have found that many women who transition through menopause gain weight. And, coupled with the fact that many postmenopausal women become less active, this can put you at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

But why dancing specifically?

Researchers that led the study found that dancing just THREE days per week can improve the lipid profile, functional fitness, self-esteem, and self-image of postmenopausal women.

Dancing is also a great ‘alternative’ to traditional exercise for older women because it comes with a low risk of injury. Studies have shown that dancing helps improve balance, overall strength, gait, postural control, and physical performance – without being jarring on your muscles or joints.

And, let’s not forget that dancing can be FUN! After all, who wants to stare off on a treadmill?!

If you’re interested in starting a dancing routine, it’s easier than you think.

Chances are most rec centers or senior centers in your area offer some kind of dance class. Your best bet is to go online and search for classes in your area.

But don’t feel like you need to nail down a specific dance or get fancy with your moves. Feel free to just dance in the comfort of your own home. Crank up the music while making dinner and bust a few moves.

If you want something more polished, you can find dancing class DVDs on Amazon, or search for instructional videos on YouTube.

So, the next time someone tells you to ‘get out and be active’, consider giving dancing a try.

(Like Sandy and Danny did)

To the fun of dancing,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Anderer, John. “Dancing promotes better health in postmenopausal women.” https://studyfinds.org/dancing-postmenopausal-women/