Exercising for Pleasure

For most of us, exercising means work and discipline. It is a matter of making an effort in getting to the gym ready to work out. Seldom are we aware of the physical enjoyment and wellbeing exercise brings us. You can exercise and have fun too! I am talking about dancing as a door into fitness.

Simply consider some possibilities. For example, consider dancing to music around the house or even teaching your children how to dance. You can even take classes on ballroom dancing, belly dancing, flamenco dancing, tango dancing, swing dancing, line, square and folk dancing, or even ballet. With so many options, who can resist getting fit?


Here are a few reasons to dance:

Dancing is considered a low-impact, weight-bearing, mild to moderate intensity activity.

Because it is a low-impact, weight bearing exercise it may have cardiovascular benefits and prevent osteoporosis.

A 150-pound adult can burn about 150 calories doing 30 minutes of moderate social dancing (AARP, Getting Motivated, Let’s Dance to Health, www.aarp.com Retrieved 4/9/07).

It involves the whole body, which can result in an overall increase in muscle tone.

It requires good posture which is always a plus for your back and your body alignment at any age and will make you look confident and taller.

It improves your balance and your sense of where your body is in space during movement as well as your ability to respond to changes in movement.

It also entails learning step sequences, hence, requiring you to concentrate and focus—which will in turn distract your mind from daily worries while exercising your memory.

If you are dancing in a group setting, it provides you with opportunities to meet new people with a similar interest.

Dancing with a partner also requires that you connect and respond to another human being by being present, receptive and yielding, qualities that will benefit your relationships.

Dancing to appealing music can be exhilarating, renew your spirit, spark your creativity, improve your mood, bring you joy and make you feel sexy. Belly dancing and Latin dancing involve hip and pelvis movements, which can make you feel sexy and lead you to reconnect with your body on friendly terms. It can work wonders, you will find out what it can do for your libido once you try it. Enjoyment is a key ingredient to compliance with any exercise program; the more we derive pleasure from an activity, the better the chances are that we will repeat the action.

Any dancing class or routine you may practice will help you burn calories. The amount you burn will depend on how intense you move and for how long. Dancing that involves traveling steps and continuous motion, such as Salsa, will burn the most calories. In general, any movement that you add to your daily life that you did not do before will contribute to your health. Flamenco dancing builds strong legs; tango promotes balance and increases receptivity to your partner; Latin dances promote agility, and so on. One of the many dances that stay in our muscle memories is ballet. Those of us who have taken ballet classes as children, try getting back into this wonderful discipline to renew your connection with your body.

If you decide to dance your way to fitness, consider short-term classes or different classes until you find the most satisfying match for your personality. Explore your options. Once you find your match, make a commitment and stay with it for at least three months. Try a few places to make sure you will feel comfortable. Select an environment in which you will enjoy the music selection, the instructor’s style, the people taking the class, the location, etc.

Remember to do this for yourself. If your spouse or a friend wants to join you, great, just make sure they do not disturb your practice and you are not dependent on them to continue. Another option is to do this at home watching a video. You can either dance with a partner, your children, or on your own. Or, you can just play your favorite music and let loose for 30 minutes every other day. You will be amazed at the improvement in your mood and how relaxed you will feel afterwards.

Dancing is not the only form of enjoyable exercise. While my focus has been on dancing, any exercise that brings you greater body awareness and makes you feel good qualifies as a pleasurable door into fitness. Dancing has the added dimension of allowing us to enjoy our bodies in a social setting, something we rarely do consciously in this society today. Most of us go around thinking about our physical faults based on impossible body models fed by the media, but when we dance to a tune we like, we tend to shed some of our inhibitions and we enjoy being in our bodies. My hope is that by invoking this frame of mind through dancing on a consistent basis and through exploration of various types of exercise, you will find your own healthy way to read standards for your body size and shape.

A complete version of this article can be found at www.latinastyle.com. Useful references on this topic are also available on-line.
 
Ana Castro is the National Project Manager for UnitedHealthcare’s Latino Health Solutions Division. Ana has over 20 years of experience in the field of fitness as a personal trainer, lifestyle management coach, and is the producer and developer of six exercise videos in Spanish especially dedicated to Latinas. UnitedHealthcare Latino Health Solutions is leading the way with its commitment to building diversity and promoting opportunities for Latinas in the workplace.

References:
Mayo Clinic, Belly Dancing: A good Exercise for Weight Loss, www.mayoclinic.com Retrieved 4/9/07.
Harvard School of Public Health, Exercise, www.hsph.harvard.edu Retrieved 4/9/07.
American Council on Exercise, Three Things Every Exercise Program Should Have, www.acefitness.org Retrieved 4/9/07.
American College of Sports Medicine, Energy expenditure in Different Modes of Exercise, www.acsm.org Retrieved 4/9/07.

By Ana Castro