What is cardio dance?
Cardio dance is simply utilizing different types of dance to exercise your body. The term “cardio” means working to achieve a target heart rate, increasing metabolic rate, burning calories, and improving stamina. It can be difficult to stick to the same old boring workout routine, so mixing it up with some dancing just makes sense. It’s also a lot of fun and sets a great example for children. There are many types of dance cardio programs and videos to choose from, so you can change your routine as often as you want to.
Who does cardio dance work for?
Cardio dance classes are great for everyone, from the fitness newbie who’s looking to get back in shape without jumping into a high-intensity workouts to the dance fanatic. Cardio dance comes in all types of styles so you can choose one set of your favorite music. And no matter the class, you can set your own pace. Most instructors provide modified versions of all their moves to cater to those with injuries or those who just want to take the intensity down a few notches. The good thing is you can do your cardio dance is your house with a cardio dance video you love.
Types Of Cardio Dance
Zumba Dancing
One dance cardio option that is currently extremely popular is Zumba dancing. Zumba uses Latin and hip hop dance influences to create a dance workout that is fun and effective. Zumba classes and videos are easy to find. Either way, the combination of fast and slow dance movements will work your body in an aerobic routine that is nothing but beneficial.
Bollywood dancing
Bollywood dancing is a commercial name for modern Indian dancing. It’s a combination of classical Indian dance (which is the base), folk dancing such as Bhangra and sometimes has a Latino and Arabic influence. It’s fun and very expressive and there’s a lot of deep meaning behind music in the films. You can actually express what the music means, through the graceful movements of the body.
Hula Hoop Dancing
The humble hula hoop is a bona fide piece of workout equipment that can tone your thighs, abdominals, gluteals, and arms. And it’s just as much fun as you remember. This type of workout is so much fun that you barely feel like you’re working out.
Salsa
For optimum calorie burning you can try the many forms of salsa dancing, too. Salsa is fun and exciting and reaps as many great benefits as other forms of cardio dance. Salsa is a great type of cardio dance that requires a partner, so you can invite a friend to go dancing with you.
What Cardio Dance Those To Your Body
It utilizes different muscle groups.
Running and cycling are great workouts, but they only target certain areas of your muscle, namely the ones in your legs. Cardio dance is unique in the sense that it gives you a full-body aerobic workout, toning and shaping your muscles through specific high- and low-impact movements. Because most dance moves alternate among using your arms, legs and glutes, you’re almost always working your core, which keeps you balanced and helps you maintain proper form.
Improves coordination and rhythm, too!
They rhythmic movements you’ll find yourself doing in a cardio dance class might feel strange and unfamiliar at first, but over time, just like anything you do repeatedly, you’ll start to feel more comfortable (and might even look good while doing them!). Also, utilizing your different muscle groups helps you become more familiar with utilizing different areas of your body, which can help you with everyday activities such as walking or standing up straight.
It can boost your brain
When your body starts moving to the sound of music or even a drum beat, the reward centers in your brain are stimulated and your sensory and motor circuits are activated. Just like when you learn any activity, the neurons in your brain are activated and your memory and recall is also enhanced. In fact, science is so behind the benefits of dance for your brain, that the activity is now being used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease!
It can improve your mood
If just the beat and rhythm of a great song doesn’t already have you feeling a whole lot better about your day, moving your body along to the music will have you in higher spirits in no time. In fact, one Swedish study, which followed 112 teen girls struggling with stress, anxiety and depression, among other ailments, found that those who took dance classes improved their mental health and reported a boost in mood. These positive effects even lasted up to eight months after classes ended!
It burns tons of fat
When you’re getting your heart rate up high and are able to keep it at that level for extended periods of time, that means your body is burning fat. Because there are few breaks in cardio dance, it’s known as one of the most fat-burning workouts.
It tones your muscles
Most people don’t think cardio dance is great for toning since you’re not lifting heavy weights or doing high-intensity intervals, but that’s not true. Dance cardio can be just as effective as any other exercise for toning and firming areas of your body, especially your legs, glutes and obliques.
It breaks workout monotony
Let’s face it, doing the same workout every single day can get old. Plus, working the same muscle groups for the same amount of time actually builds up a tolerance so that you’re not getting as good of a workout you once were doing the same exact thing. Crazy, right? Cardio dance is different because it’s constantly switching up movements. It also is easier on your muscles because you’re not utilizing them until the point of exhaustion.
You can always find series of dance audios on YouTube.
If you’re looking to get back into the swing of a fitness routine, but are craving something fun, motivating and addicting, give cardio dance a try.
Happy dancing!
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