Prevention Magazine mentions
Square Dancing as a healthy
activity
by Bob Knowles
In the December issue of
Prevention Magazine, on page 23 in the "Mailbag" section was a letter by a lady
who turned 40 and was starting to get fit. She also wanted to know what she
could do to keep herself motivated into her 50's and beyond. The response was:
Have fun! You'll stay more active over a lifetime if you like what you are
doing. You can walk in the woods, plant a garden, cycle, or swim, says James M.
Rippe, MD. Or try dancing: Line, swing or square dancing can really keep you
moving. Another tip: find company. Studies show that if you exercise with a
friend, you're more likely to stick with it, says Jack Raglin, PhD.
When
we learn to dance, we have to use our brain to understand what is said, and
convert this foreign language into something useful. We also move around in a
square, and as we learn more and get more confidence, we (hopefully) move
faster/quicker.
Do we promote the friendship, energy and fitness
posibilities? We could couple this with a healthy diet and of course, consult
your physician before starting any physical activity. We really could have
something here, if we promote this in the right direction. Maybe we could
promote "Dancing for the health of it".
I don't think that we should
downplay this. Some will be starting classes, and maybe this could be one way to
get new people involved.
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