Six Ways Dancing is Good For You

Just 30 minutes is healthy for your brain and your body.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it many more times again: Dancing is great for us in ways that go beyond torching a few calories. Aside from physical benefits, such as improved flexibility and mobility, dancing has mental advantages, too. (Think better mood and a more positive outlook.) But don’t just take our word for it. These benefits, and the studies that back them up, prove that taking up dance is a move you won’t regret.

Benefit #1: Dancing creates new pathways for the brain.

Benefit #2: It can aid in weight control. Dancing helps control “emotional eating.”

Benefit #3: Ever feel dizzy? Dancing can help that. Dancing improves your balance and makes you less dizzy.

Benefit #4: It can prevent diseases associated with aging. Daily dancing offers protection against dementia.

Benefit #5: It can be therapeutic for those with mental illnesses. Just 30 minutes of dancing can improve symptoms of depression.

Benefit #6: It can make you more optimistic. This Swedish study found that dance helps foster self-esteem.

Now that you know some of the amazing benefits of shaking your hips and rocking some moves, head to a Zumba class (or any other dance class) to start training your brain!

This post originally appeared on zlife.sumba.com.

Photo credit: LuckyBusiness, Thinkstock