Dance, Dance Resolution!

No, not that stomping interactive video game at the arcade…I’m talking about dancing in a studio, at the club, or even in front of a mirror. Not many know it, but dancing has amazing health benefits that help your body physically and mentally. Some people prefer strengthening the body using their own body weight as opposed to anaerobic free weights or machines. Dance is the resolution to escaping those confusing metal contraptions. With the use of your own body weight, there is a less chance of injury as well. Being an athlete my whole life and accustomed to working out, I decided to try dance out myself.

From the first moment I walked into Arthur Murray Dance Studio, the room was lively and upbeat. People were moving to the music. I don’t think I saw one person without a smile on their face! I heard a waltz count to my right, “one-two-three, one-two-three…” Then I heard a lively Cha Cha Cha to my left. A little nervous, I got out on the dance floor. Before I knew it I was breaking a sweat in the beginner’s basics class.

Later, I left the dance group and had a one-on-one session with a certified dance instructor. Soon my legs were flexing rigorously from the movement. By the end of the night I knew a whole new dance sequence. How did I feel afterward? I felt energized, confident, and proud of my accomplishment, not to mention a little sore.

“Dance is a great solution for the inactive person of any age to get in shape”, “I had a hip replacement that lasted 25 years”. “The doctors said it was supposed to last only 10-15 years”, says Thomas May, the owner of Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Riverside

Interested in Thomas May’s experience as an owner of a dance studio and as a dancer himself, I asked him more about the health benefits of dance. Like I said, I am an athlete - a soccer player to be exact. I have had at least 10 friends, including my younger sister, tear their ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) during soccer play.
Thomas May said that every day he gets dancers that rehabilitate their bodies from serious injuries or surgery. He works with students that have had broken limbs, hip and knee replacements, torn ligaments, scoliosis, and a number of other injuries or ailments. Dance can act like physical therapy for the body. It rehabilitates without being strenuous on the muscles or joints.

“It doesn’t matter the age, dance strengthens the leg muscles. Stronger muscles mean less strain on the ligaments and bones that hold the body together,” said Thomas. That means less knee pain, more flexibility, good posture and stronger ankles, which is important, as they are the foundation to our body’s structure.

Another example of the benefits of dance is an older couple that came to the studio claming they could barely climb the stairs in their home. After several months of dancing, stair climbing was no longer a problem. Talk about reversing the aging process!

A study conducted at Harvard Medical School stated that dancing has shown to decrease the rapid rate of mental decline in diseases such Alzheimer’s and other debilitating diseases. It keeps the mind sound when the body has to remember dance sequences. We may forget that a healthy lifestyle does not just lie within good physical health but mental and emotional health as well. Dance keeps a person sharp and is a great confidence boost. It also makes a person more aware of their body, posture and eating habits.

Disciplining your body takes a lot of mental strength. Boy does it make you focus when you learn those new dance steps! Discipline is key, especially with structured dances like salsa, waltz, or swing. Besides its effects on the health of our mind, dancing also opens doors to more socializing, overcoming shyness, or just good old fun. Believe it or not, more men were at the dance studio than women.

Move over squat machine! I need to dance! Dancing was a great experience and more often than not I will hit the dance floor instead of feeling lost in a gym trying out different exercise machines. Did you know that according to healthstatus.com, fast ballroom dancing burns approximately 400 calories per hour? It would take two and a half miles of running to burn that amount. Bye-bye running!

The next wedding reception is waiting for you to show off your new dance skills! The part I liked the best about my experience was discovering that dancing is fun! I didn’t even realize I was exercising and burning calories.


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Dance, Dance Resolution! A Healthy Times Product Review By Vanessa Fulldosa No, not that stomping interactive video game at the arcade…I’m talking about dancing in a studio, at the club, or even in front of a mirror. Not many know it, but dancing has amazing health benefits that help your body physically and mentally. Some people prefer strengthening the body using their own body weight as opposed to anaerobic free weights or machines. Dance is the resolution to escaping those confusing metal contraptions. With the use of your own body weight, there is a less chance of injury as well. Being an athlete my whole life and accustomed to working out, I decided to try dance out myself. From the first moment I walked into Arthur Murray Dance Studio, the room was lively and upbeat. People were moving to the music. I don’t think I saw one person without a smile on their face! I heard a waltz count to my right, “one-two-three, one-two-three…” Then I heard a lively Cha Cha Cha to my left. A little nervous, I got out on the dance floor. Before I knew it I was breaking a sweat in the beginner’s basics class. Later, I left the dance group and had a one-on-one session with a certified dance instructor. Soon my legs were flexing rigorously from the movement. By the end of the night I knew a whole new dance sequence. How did I feel afterward? I felt energized, confident, and proud of my accomplishment, not to mention a little sore. “Dance is a great solution for the inactive person of any age to get in shape”, “I had a hip replacement that lasted 25 years”. “The doctors said it was supposed to last only 10-15 years”, says Thomas May, the owner of Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Riverside Interested in Thomas May’s experience as an owner of a dance studio and as a dancer himself, I asked him more about the health benefits of dance. Like I said, I am an athlete - a soccer player to be exact. I have had at least 10 friends, including my younger sister, tear their ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) during soccer play. Thomas May said that every day he gets dancers that rehabilitate their bodies from serious injuries or surgery. He works with students that have had broken limbs, hip and knee replacements, torn ligaments, scoliosis, and a number of other injuries or ailments. Dance can act like physical therapy for the body. It rehabilitates without being strenuous on the muscles or joints. “It doesn’t matter the age, dance strengthens the leg muscles. Stronger muscles mean less strain on the ligaments and bones that hold the body together,” said Thomas. That means less knee pain, more flexibility, good posture and stronger ankles, which is important, as they are the foundation to our body’s structure. Another example of the benefits of dance is an older couple that came to the studio claming they could barely climb the stairs in their home. After several months of dancing, stair climbing was no longer a problem. Talk about reversing the aging process! A study conducted at Harvard Medical School stated that dancing has shown to decrease the rapid rate of mental decline in diseases such Alzheimer’s and other debilitating diseases. It keeps the mind sound when the body has to remember dance sequences. We may forget that a healthy lifestyle does not just lie within good physical health but mental and emotional health as well. Dance keeps a person sharp and is a great confidence boost. It also makes a person more aware of their body, posture and eating habits. Disciplining your body takes a lot of mental strength. Boy does it make you focus when you learn those new dance steps! Discipline is key, especially with structured dances like salsa, waltz, or swing. Besides its effects on the health of our mind, dancing also opens doors to more socializing, overcoming shyness, or just good old fun. Believe it or not, more men were at the dance studio than women. Move over squat machine! I need to dance! Dancing was a great experience and more often than not I will hit the dance floor instead of feeling lost in a gym trying out different exercise machines. Did you know that according to healthstatus.com, fast ballroom dancing burns approximately 400 calories per hour? It would take two and a half miles of running to burn that amount. Bye-bye running! The next wedding reception is waiting for you to show off your new dance skills! The part I liked the best about my experience was discovering that dancing is fun! I didn’t even realize I was exercising and burning calories. For information about dance and its health benefits contact Thomas May of Arthur Murray Dance Studio @ 951-684-7767