Archive for May, 2010

Dance Your Way to a Better Body

More and more people are going to the dance floor for a workout vs. a gym as their exercise regime. It’s good for your body, mind and spirit.

The American Cancer Association states: Physically, dance therapy can provide exercise, improve mobility and muscle coordination, and reduce muscle tension. Emotionally, dance is reported to improve self-awareness, self-confidence, and interpersonal interaction, and is an outlet for communicating feelings. Some promoters claim that dance therapy may strengthen the immune system through muscular action and physiological processes and can even help prevent disease.

Clinical reports suggest that dance therapy helps in developing body image; improving self-concept and self-esteem; reducing stress, anxiety, and depression; decreasing isolation, chronic pain, and body tension; and increasing communication skills and feelings of well-being.

Ballroom dancing is helping change the way people see exercise, especially for older Americans attracted by the sense of nostalgia it evokes. Adding to the attraction in recent years are pop culture hits like “Dancing with the Stars”, “Shall we Dance?” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Depending on the step, ballroom dancing can burn anywhere from 250 calories to 400 calories an hour – about the same as a brisk half-hour walk on a treadmill, and the more demanding dances like the salsa, samba and cha-cha can be comparable to an intense session at the gym.

Many people shy away from the idea of dancing, thinking they don’t have the coordination or skill to master it. Some may simply feel embarrassed or shy to give it a try in public. There are a number of ways one can get into dancing, by learning in the privacy of their own home.

Master Latin Professional Dancer, Josie Neglia is world-renown for her easy-to-learn method to get you moving and dancing to the Latin beats of Salsa, Merengue, Cha Cha and Bachata. Josie gives dance lessons all over the world, but is based in Los Angeles/ Long Beach, so South Bay Salseros have numerous opportunities to connect with her, take classes and/or order from her collection of highly rated DVD’s. Her DVD’s range in level from beginner to advance and you don’t need a partner to follow along.

Josie currently has a series of Latin dance classes in West L.A., East L.A., and Long Beach. For more information, visit www.LatinDance.com for more info on class times and locations and current specials on DVD’s, dance shoes, and apparel. You can also call Josie at 310-869-8313.

So go ahead and dance your way to a better body!

Re-Posted by permission from Josie Neglia, www.LatinDance.com