9 Reasons Why "Dance Like a Chicken Day" Should Be on Your Calendar
6 minute read
Did you know dancing is considered an effective form of exercise? It’s also an extremely fun way to boost health, so much so that you may even forget you're exercising.
“Dance Like a Chicken Day” may not be something on your calendar, but it should be. It’s the perfect reminder to get up and then get down, so dance your way to better health and good times this May 14th.
Why You Should Be Dancing More
We all know that exercise is a necessary component of good health. Regardless of age, exercise helps to maintain health through weight loss, energy production, mood elevation, healthy bones and muscles, and improved metabolic processes.
Depending on your age or health condition, you may be limited as to the exercises you can perform, but this shouldn’t keep you from moving. Dancing can be less strenuous on the body, and it’s a perfect way to boost health.
Studies have found that dancing improves mobility, flexibility, weight loss, and reduces stress. The good news is that this applies to all dancing, so if you’re not comfortable dancing like a chicken you can still reap the benefits from a style of your choosing.
Once you start regularly hitting the dance floor, there are a number of health benefits you will see.
1. Improved Memory
Studies have found that dancing boosts mood and memory, which keeps your brain younger. As a result, you are less likely to develop dementia. Exercises like dancing stimulate your hippocampus, which is responsible for memory. The hippocampus naturally shrinks with aging, but dancing is a fun way to slow the process down.
2. Reduced Stress
Stress is a part of everyday life and often unavoidable. Since you can’t always avoid it, you need to learn to cope with it, so it doesn’t cause inflammation and health problems.
Dancing is a great way to let off steam and lower stress levels. This can be even more effective when you grab a dance partner to boogie the night away with. The combination of good company, fun music, and exercise allows dancing to melt stress away.
3. Reduced Depression
Exercise, in general, is known to increase the production of “feel-good” hormones. Along with the chemical boost, the act of dancing is fun, especially when you have a partner or group of friends. Dancing can bring enjoyment and delight, both of which elevate your mood and reduce any signs of the blues.
4. Improved Flexibility
Mobility and flexibility can become an issue you get older. It’s important to keep moving so you can maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and balance. These are essential when it comes to preventing falls or injuries.
Dancing is a gentle way to exercise your joints and muscles to increase flexibility and balance. It also reduces stiffness that can be associated with aging. Moving and exercising may be more challenging as you get older, but dancing can be softer on your body making it the ideal way to exercise and stay fit.
5. Get Stronger
It may not seem like it, but dancing can help increase your strength. You don’t have to lift weights to get stronger, grab a partner and dance the night away.
Coordinated movements and dances work all muscle groups keeping you fit and strong. Your core muscles also get a good workout as you hold positions and postures, and this helps to prevent slouching.
Dancing is also more entertaining than lifting a barbell over and over.
| Related: How Your Favorite Tunes Elevate Your Mood |
6. Lose Weight
Your metabolism and metabolic processes slow as you get older, so it can become a challenge to keep weight off. Excessive weight and obesity can contribute to serious health problems including diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Dancing is a great way to avoid the gym while also losing weight.
Dancing also serves as a nice break when walking or cycling gets boring.
7. Boost Heart Health
As with all exercise, dancing is a great cardiovascular exercise. Individuals that take dance classes on a regular basis have been found to have a lower risk for heart disease. Dancing helps to improve circulation, breathing, and quality of life.
8. More Energy
If you’re struggling to find the energy you need to get things done or always have that afternoon drag, try dancing. Dance classes help you get exercise regularly and improve physical strength and performance. As a result, you end up with more energy.
Rather than load up on caffeine or sugary energy drinks, put on some music and move your feet.
| Related: How to Boost Your Energy Naturally & Fast When Tired |
9. Make Friends
Joining a dance class is a great way to meet new people and make friends. Socializing is necessary to avoid isolation and depression, which can happen all too easily as we get older. Maintaining positive social relationships boosts mood and also motivates you to keep going.
Social relationships are proven to increase happiness, reduce stress, and boost overall immunity and health.
The Bottom Line
Dancing is exercise, but the fun of it causes people to forget that they are working out. This is a good thing—if your brain thinks it’s having fun, it will begin to crave it more often.
Exercising can become tedious, and without motivation you will likely give up. With dancing, you have fun and stay healthy, which is all the reason you need to get up and get your groove on.
