Try dance for a change

I love to dance.  Everyone loves to dance, whether they are good at it or not.  Dancing allows us to let loose, free our minds and have fun.  Whether it's structured dancing such as ballet and jazz or just casual dancing with your friends, dancing is fun for everyone.

Not only is dancing fun, but it can also be a good workout.  Dancing is a great cardiovascular workout, and a workout that tones your muscles.  It gets your heart pumping and gets you sweating, which means you are strengthening your heart and burning calories. 

There are many types of dance workouts you can do.  Try belly dancing, contemporary or jazz for a good core and leg workout.  Ballet, though it isn't as strenuous for a cardio workout, will sculpt every muscle.  Zumba, which is an aerobic-type workout that uses different types of dance, is one of the most popular workout programs today.  Many women are interested in Zumba because it gets you fit without having to go to the gym to lift weights or run on a treadmill.

When planning your workouts, it's important to mix them up.  Often we get bored of our everyday workout, and our bodies crave something new.  Dancing is a solution.  Because there are so many different types of dance, it is easy to pick those that are your favorite and incorporate them into your weekly workout routine.  This will keep you from skipping workouts because you're tired of them.  Another perk of dancing is that you can do it in the comfort of your own home.  You don't have to go to the gym to get the healthy body you want – there are plenty of dance workout videos you can buy and practice wherever you like. 

Try it.  Grab a friend and get those dancing shoes out!   

Contact Staci Cox at cox152@marshall.edu.