There is no doubt that dancing is a great form of fitness that can help you stay fit at any age, size, or shape. Take a look at this dance workout video by Caleb Marshall and you will see just how fun getting fit by dancing can be. What you might also notice is that it features Whitney Way Thore who is a strong and vocal advocate of body acceptance and being fit and healthy at any size and founder of the No Body Shame Campaign.
She is an inspiration to people all over the world to be proud of exactly who they are and if she has inspired you to give dancing a try, you won’t regret it. Dancing is perfect for people of all shapes and sizes because it can be as taxing on your body as you want it to be, so you don’t need to worry about injuring yourself. And because it is so much fun, you can complete a pretty intense workout without even really thinking about it.
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The Department of Human Health sets out physical guidelines for the amount of physical activity adults need to take part in per week to maintain their health, including their cardiovascular health. This is either 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise (aerobic exercise).
By dancing a few times a week, you will easily meet those physical activity guidelines and you will set your body up for success both now and later on down the line.
Some of the health benefits of dancing include:
- Improvements in cardiovascular health
- Improved lung capacity and fitness
- Increased aerobic fitness
- Increased muscle strength and muscle tone
- Stronger bones, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis
- Better balance and coordination
- Higher endurance
But our physical health isn’t the only thing that matters. What’s so great about dance is that it also has a range of benefits for your mental health. It is an inclusive and social dance that will help to improve your confidence and get you out there and connect with people. It is also a natural mood booster because of the endorphins your body releases and because of the special connection we have with moving our bodies to music.
The bottom line
Whatever your size or shape, fitness level, or health history, dancing can help to improve both your physical and mental health. If you don’t feel quite ready to get out there and join a class, following Caleb Marshall’s dance workout videos will give you all the benefits and help to boost your confidence.
If you liked this article, feel free to share it with your friends! As online learning becomes more popular, we’ve added a new section for online dance classes. Online classes are a fun and easy way to learn dance from the comfort of your home. You can take lessons from world-class teachers, practice at your own pace, and it’s super affordable too! Online dance classes are just great if you want to get moving and learn new dance styles, check it out.