9 Reasons Why You Should Start Square Dancing
Square dancing is a part of American culture and history that had stood the test of time and continued to be very popular as a favorite pastime for individuals in every region of the United States. In fact, Square dancing has been gaining popularity with the younger generations these days, because it emphasized more fun, fitness, and socialization compared to other forms of dancing.
Just like other forms of dance, square dancing offers a lot of physical, mental, and health benefits, but what separates square dancing is that it is a very inclusive and community-oriented dance. The basic movements of square dancing are also simple enough to learn on the spot that anyone can join into at the right moment, regardless of age, gender, or shape.
So why not start square dancing now? Learning the square dance steps is a great way to learn the fun style of square dance moves, and at the same time, get the benefits of square dancing. We’ve come up with nine reasons why you should start square dancing now.
Square Dancing is Easy to Learn
You don’t need special skills or dance experience to learn square dancing. If you can walk, you can learn to square dance. What is important is you move around the dance floor in patterns with other dancers to the cues of the caller. Don’t worry, where your feet will go, just listen to the caller. The caller will teach you the steps to the pattern you need to know.
With square dancing, the steps are simple, and each figure is taught step-by-step in a repetitive relaxed environment, so you’ll learn quickly. Square dancing is based upon walking in defined directions for defined distances, and since walking is one of the most natural things that we do, you’ll have an easy time learning to square dance.
Square Dancing Helps You Keep Fit.
We all know that exercise is good for everyone. Square dancing can also be a form of exercise that doesn’t seem to look like hard work because it has a low impact on physical activity that helps your body keep in shape. So, young or old, square dancing is a perfect way to build physical activity into your lives.
Many square dancing movements can strengthen your weight-bearing bones that help slow down the loss of bone mass or osteoporosis. It can also help burn off between 200 and 400 calories every 30 minutes of square dancing, and that is equivalent to walking or riding a bike.
A study has shown that adults who are involved in activities like dancing have a good sense of balance and have fewer incidents of falling as they get older.
Square Dancing Is Good For The Heart
Square dancing movement is excellent for your body, it is not strenuous, and it provides a cardio strength-building activity. Two hours of square dancing is equivalent to a 5-mile walk, and the music and fun can make you forget that you are working out while dancing. With square dancing your blood is pumping, your body and limbs are moving, and your lungs get fresh air pushed throughout your body.
Square dancing regularly can also lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and an improved cholesterol profile. That’s why the American Heart Association supports square dancing as a lifelong activity.
Square Dancing can Boost Brain Function
A regular dance will keep your mind and body active. However, square dancing has wide appeal for many adults because it bolsters mental and physical health by helping older people improve posture, flexibility, lift mood, and ease anxiety. Listening to “calls” improves alertness and sharpens the mind of the dancer. These help the body and brain to be tightly coordinated.
The different square dance steps also require the dancer to use both sides of your brain in what is called a “cross-lateral movement, which are the movements that cross from one side of your body to the other. These movements are great exercise for your brain, memory, and coordination, which are important as we grow older.
Square Dancing is Great For Rehabilitation
Square dancing is walking at a steady pace to a called pattern with music. Square dancing combines mental concentration and aspects of physical exercise that include sustained activity, flexibility, balance, and coordination.
If you’re recovering from an injury, square dancing is a great way to get back in the swing of things. Square dancing keeps your body and joints moving in a slower way than other forms of exercise, and it’s a great alternative to high-intensity exercise.
Square Dancing Is A Great Way To Socialize
Square dancing or moving to the music with others is a great way to meet people in a relaxed social atmosphere. It encourages and increases social bonding with strangers. Most square dancers formed lifelong friendships, and many have met the love of their life by attending square dance clubs.
Square Dancing Provides A Good Environment
Square dance clubs or square dance activities provide an opportunity to socialize and meet new people in a good and safe environment. It can also be an inexpensive activity that can be enjoyed by your family and friends.
Square Dancing Is A Great Way To Relieve Stress
The scientific reason why dancing has the ability to act as a stress reliever comes from the idea that when your body feels good, your mind does, too. Square Dancing is good for your psychological well-being because it makes you feel good that releases tensions and helps relaxation and sleep.
When you’re square dancing you will find yourself often smiling because you have fun, and you’re with your friends, and laughter is a proven effective stress reliever.
Square Dancing Makes You Happy.
It’s true! Square dancing makes you happy because it makes you feel alive. Dancing with the music can boost happiness, improve our thinking patterns, as well as raising the heart rate that causes the release of feel-good endorphins in our bloodstream.
Square dancing can bring people together, and it encourages you to create a social life and make new friends that make you laugh and support you as you learn from others. Meeting your friends, with great music, and dancing with them in a relaxed, feel-good environment is always something you would love to look forward to after a long week of hard work.
So what are you waiting for? Get your square dancing attire and swing your partner round and round and have fun square dancing!