Fat Loss Dance Moves - Can having fun on the dance floor can help you slim down?

Apparently the next big fitness craze is going to be Bollywood style “dancercise” classes. The craze is inspired by the closing scene from the Indian movie Slumdog Millionaire. Here’s a peak at the dance that’s causing all the commotion:

Now, you know this blog isn’t really big on the mainstream fitness trends and advice. But this caught my eye, not for the trend itself, but for the deeper idea of using dance, and other fun activities, to stay healthy and fit.

My wife and I used to do a lot of Swing Dancing. In fact, for a while there I was actually teaching it at a pretty high level. It’s performed to swing jazz music, mainly from the ‘30s, ‘40s and 50’s. And I can tell you that we would leave dance parties absolutely drenched in sweat. Dancing can be a great form of exercise for fat loss, coordination, timing and overall well being. For fun, here’s a look at one of the most famous (and acrobatic) Lindy Hop scenes of all time:

So that clip is a pretty extreme example, but you can see how vigorous it can be. Your fitness efforts don’t have to be confined to a gym. You can use any number of options to stay fit and healthy. The thing I like about dance is the addition of considerable skill to the movement mix.

Among the pivotal lessons I’ve learned from Circular Strength Training® is the importance of Flow, which in essence is the ability to get out of your own way and let your movement express itself freely. What could be better than dance for unlocking that inherent search for unfettered movement?

Once you get the basics down, dance allows you to

• Focus on the music and let your body do what it will (Flow)
• Spontaneously improvise movement grounded in the basics (Flow)
• String seemingly unrelated movements together into a coordinated Flow
• Benefit from the positive effects of listening to music

You don’t necessarily need an organized system of dance to take advantage of these elements. One of the coolest things we do around here is just put on some music and dance with the kid. But if you do want to launch into dance in a more organized fashion, you aren’t limited to your health club’s latest dancersise class.

• Figure out what music really turns your crank
• Find out what forms of dance are done to that music
• Search out schools in your area that offer that style of dance
• Ask if you can try a class for free to see if you like it
• Make sure you have a partner to practice with (if its a partner dance)
  Here are some suggestions to start the ball rolling: salsa, tango, swing, ballroom, hip hop, break dance, and much more (it all depends on your taste in music and movement)

It’s not for everyone, but if you like music, and you like to move, dance may just be another piece of your overall wellness plan.

Comments

[Monica]

This post made me miss college. =) My friend Matt and I used to go to dance clubs and parties all the time. It was awesome - even if we did become sweaty and nasty. Hey, at least we were moving. AND we were usually too busy shaking our groove things to do much drinking. All around, dancing rules - it's fun, social, and a great way to celebrate good music. Oh, and it's a good cardio exercise, too. =)

[David at Animal-Kingdom-Workouts]

I used to do lot of swing dancing myself. It was great. You'd be having so much fun you wouldn't even realize how you were actually exercising. I can see the "Bollywood" style dancing really catching on. I know that I felt like dancing at the end of "Slumdog" anyway.

- Dave

[Adam]

Monica - Like you say, when you are dancing you're getting a great workout and you don't even realize it because you're having so much fun!

Dave - I kinda miss dancing, but now that we have a kid, it makes it a bit hard to go out and start dancing at 10:00 PM (which is about the earliest that anything ever starts around here...).

[Fitness-siren]

I don't know about Bollywood but I'd rather dance to some salsa music - that really keeps me going!

I agree that dancing can be a part of a fun, active lifestyle. Now, I just have to forget about getting the hubby to dance because there's not hope in that...lol.

Great post!

[Adam]

Hey Fitness-siren -> Thanks for dropping by. Yeah, I've had my eye on Salsa for a long time. The rhythms are awesome and the dance itself is captivating. Too bad about the hubby. As far as I'm concerned, a man who can dance well is a very manly man indeed (but I guess I'm biased...). LOL

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[Lillea Woodlyns]

I love to dance, and the Hellzapoppin' clip is one of my favorites of all time. It's like they're made of rubber! Tremendous strength and acrobatics!

Swing music is fantastic. I love to dance VERY fast so it's a great fit. I find dancing far more natural than most forms of exercise - it doesn't tire me out in the same way at all. Fun. :)