Shall We Dance…
Not to be biased because I graduated with a dance degree, but if you haven’t tried a dance cardio class, I totally recommend getting your booty to one and give it a try. Now and days there’s a variety of dance cardio styles from Zumba, 305 fitness, to now Peloton offering on-demand dance cardio classes, and even instructors like me creating our own flavor.
I totally get it, your first class could feel a little nerve-wrecking, however, sharing the dance floor with others who just want to feel and get better, and releasing stress is quite therapeutic. Studies have shown that dance cardio helps with social anxiety, increase public speaking skills and confidence. If you’re able to dance to a variety of rhythms with a group of people for about 45min - 60 min you can do ANYTHING my friend! After attending several classes, suddenly, BAM, it hits you that the only thing stopping you from having such a HIGH ENERGY ENDORPHIN releasing class is YOU, your confidence will skyrocket! The best part about a dance cardio class compared to your traditional dance class is that NO EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED.
Forget about perfection and keep your body moving!
“I will be patient with myself as I develop into the person I am meant to be. Being perfect is not the goal. Continuing to grow in a positive direction is the goal.”
Trust me when I say that us instructors even love it when you groove to your own rhythm, especially if there’s a specific step that you can’t figure out yet or not comfortable doing. You are allowed to explore how your body move in different ways without any judgement.
Let’s not forget to mention how dance cardio is an effective aerobic and anaerobic exercise. In class you are constantly moving for at least 45 to 60 minutes, keeping the heart pumping, building cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, managing weight, decreasing the risk of high blood pressure, which are some of the many benefits of participating in aerobic exercises. With anaerobic exercise it means without oxygen compared to aerobic meaning oxygen, in which anaerobic exercises one is building muscle with high intensity exercises. You might be wondering how one is building muscle during a dance cardio class, imagine holding a squat position for hip-hop routine for a good 3 to 4 minutes. Your quads and booty will be on fiyaaaa and you’ll be witnessing the muscular endurance that is being built.
Dance cardio is also an effective way to burn fat, due to the fact you are dancing to variety of rhythms. From an upbeat and fast paced hip hop routine to a steaming salsa routine to bringing it down to a belly dancing routine that taps into your Goddess energy. Essentially building an interval workout which is the best way to lose fat while having fun doing it. Dance cardio is a full body workout, working your core all the way to your feet muscles and even working out your brain.
While learning something new, such as a merengue routine, your brain becomes stimulated which enhances mental boosts. Research has shown that dance cardio has a positive effect on brain health, endorphins are being released from participating and learning new routines.
Music and physical movement are considered as powerful mood enhancers - dance cardio includes both mood enhancers. Physical movements alone release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Whether it’s the runners high one gets or feeling like a strong baddie after lifting weights. Now with dance cardio one can move, play, explore, allow their inner child to move with joy, or tap into divine feminine energy - without having the ballet or jazz knowledge. Music itself as a mood enhancer has tons of benefits such as stimulating memories, relieve symptoms of depression, and reducing stress to name a few. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is part of the brain that involves mood and emotions. Music releases the brain production of the hormone dopamine; the increase of dopamine helps relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. The power of music also increases workout endurance, listening to your favorite tunes can increase the endurance of a tough workout session. Now add routines with a variety of movements with songs that are upbeat, spicy, joyful, and makes you feel like a confident Goddess - you got yourself a sweaty feel-good workout!
The beauty about dance cardio is that the more consistent you are, the more you’ll improve; dance itself is a skill, learning new routines takes a little bit of time and patience. You’ll be surprised from your 1st class compared to your 10th how much you start remembering the routines and let loose. Bonus: with the new dance skills you’ll be learning I promise you’ll be whipping them out at your next girl’s night out. The best part is the changes you’ll see within 3 to 6 months from being consistent in class, you’ll have a community, a new sense of confidence, you’ll notice physical/mental changes and an improve quality of life.
Now shall we dance?
