Exercise is boring for many people, so offering dance classes is an effective way for a gym to attract new clients and satisfy current clients. Faced with a choice between walking on a treadmill and participating in a fun dance class, many people would rather dance. Dance classes are also an effective way to meet new people. Having friends in your dance class might motivate you to visit the gym more often.
Function
Any type of physical activity can improve your fitness level, but the rhythmic nature of dance makes it an effective form of exercise, especially if the dance is fast-paced. The pulsing music helps people maintain a steady pace, which helps dance instructors design an effective workout. For example, an instructor might start off a class with a slow-tempo song so everyone can warm up. After that, the tempo increases to ramp up the intensity.
Fitness Benefits
Regular physical activity improves your fitness. If you dance fast and long enough to maintain a high heart rate, the cardiovascular exercise will increase your stamina and flexibility as well as your physical endurance. Other benefits include stress reduction, increased confidence, and stronger bones and muscles. Like other forms of cardiovascular exercise, dancing regularly reduces your chances of developing chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Calorie Burning
A 125-lb. person who performs a casual aerobic dance for 1 hour burns 283 calories, according to the American Council on Exercise. If you already are in good shape, you can increase the intensity of the dance to increase the calorie-burning benefits. A 125-lb. person who performs an intense aerobic dance for 1 hour burns 397 calories.
Types
Gyms often offer many types of dance classes to engage various clients. For example, some people enjoy the easy pace of ballroom dancing, while others like the edginess and challenge of pole dancing. Other typical options include hip-hop, funk, salsa, belly dancing and ballet. If you don't already belong to a gym, visit several and ask about their dance-class offerings. Choose the gym that offers the type of dance you're interested in for the best price.
Considerations
If you're not sure how intense a style of dance is, talk to gym staff or the dance-class instructor to determine whether that class is appropriate for your fitness goals. For example, if you can't handle high-impact exercise, you should try a low-intensity class.
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