There are so many new dance workouts popping up, all claiming to be fun – but do they really work?
If you have been looking at dance workouts as something that’s cute ‘n’ all but not really an exercise, you are not alone.
However, that statement couldn’t be farther from the truth.
So, let’s dig a bit deeper.
First, where do dance workouts belong?
Dance workouts are cardio workouts, similar to running, cycling, hiking, swimming, boxing etc.
As the name “cardio” says, these are extremely beneficial workouts for your heart and cardiovascular health.
But the benefits go beyond that.
Cardio exercise is absolutely crucial if you want to lose weight. Even the biggest fans of weight lifting agree that cardio exercise cannot be ignored.
If anyone tells you cardio isn’t for weight loss, they are lying.
Otherwise, why would those who prepare for bikini competitions have two cardio sessions per day as part of their training routine?
Now that we established that dance workouts belong in the cardio workout group, the question remains:
Do they really work?
Well, let me put it this way: “Does running really work?”, “Does boxing really work?”
I guess you are smiling right now.
Yes, dance workouts really work.
Some health benefits of dance workouts include:
– increased stamina
– improved mobility and flexibility
– a better sense of balance
– improved blood flow
– a stronger immune system
– better sleep
– reduced stress
– reduced risk for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease
We cannot ignore the mental health benefits of dance workouts: they lift the mood and help people with depression and anxiety.
Dance workouts are full-body workouts, so you will be able to tone and strengthen your muscles too.
Many dance workouts, like Zumba or Sizzle, are using interval training, alternating between fast and slow movements. This type of working out is a lot more effective than steady-state workouts like running or cycling.
You may be wondering: “How many calories can I burn in a dance workout class?”
Depending on your weight, the intensity you are putting in, your current fitness level, you can burn anywhere between 200-500 calories in a 30-minutes class. That’s 400-1000 calories burnt in an hour.
As a matter of fact, according to MyFitnessPal.com when comparing dance fitness workouts such as Zumba, to other types of cardio exercises, its effectiveness is quite remarkable.
You can burn twice as many calories as in a yoga session (which is understandable since yoga is not a cardio type workout).
But by “beating” exercises such as walking, hiking and cycling, dance fitness classes are definitely demanding their place in the most effective cardio workouts.
Is it all about the calories?
We all know that exercising is so much more than the calories burnt.
The main thing about dance workouts is that they can make you really enjoy exercising.
You can easily find the motivation to exercise if you enjoy doing it.
Chances are, you will actually look forward to working out.
Moving to music has an incredible power on us, humans.
Why not give it a try right now?
