The message about the benefits of being active is very clear – it’s good for all of us, in so many ways. According to the UK Chief Medical Officers, every week adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity, or 75 minutes vigorous activity, or a mixture of both, with strengthening activities on two days also. 

But that doesn’t mean squeezing into Lycra to hit the gym or taking part in a competitive sport if that’s not your thing. Thankfully there are loads of ways to get us all moving these days, meaning there’s bound to be one or more types of activity that suit you. 

What are the benefits of dancing?

Well, there are many, and some of them might surprise you. We’d all guess that dancing is good for strength and balance, flexibility and coordination, and heart and lung health, but did you know that dancing can also improve our memory and brain health, minimize stress and anxiety, and reduce depression and loneliness?  Added to that are the benefits of socialising, meeting new people and making new friends, plus the increase in self confidence and self-esteem that joining a dancing group can bring. In fact, it has so many benefits to our general health and wellbeing, that some people have described dancing as ‘the secret to eternal youth’!  

If we asked you, we bet you could name lots of different types of dancing, from ballroom to line-dancing, and disco to Morris dancing, but how many of them have you tried? Dancing has always been part of our art, culture and celebrations, and today is mainly about recreation, exercise and sociability, though of course it can be a competitive activity too. 

So, how do you get started? 

Dancing can be done in a group, with a partner, or alone, at a dance school, social venue, leisure/fitness centre, our local community centre, or our own home. Dancing has so many benefits for both the young and the ageing body and is fantastic exercise for almost everyone, even bearing in mind most illnesses, health conditions, disabilities and post-surgery. And for most types of dancing, you won’t need any special footwear, equipment or clothing. 

Things to remember:

• When dancing, wearing layers of clothing that you can take off as your body warms up is a good idea, as is drinking fluid before, during and after dancing. 
• With any form of exercise, it’s important to do warm-up activities before and cool down afterwards, including stretching. 
• Make sure your activity and its intensity are appropriate for your fitness. Speak to your GP first if you have not exercised for some time, or if you have medical conditions or concerns.

Visit the NHS website for more guidelines about physical activity.

What’s stopping you?  

Worried you can’t dance? It really doesn’t matter – even if you say you have ‘two left feet’, most forms of dance have a teacher who can gently and patiently coax out the dancer in all of us. And, of course, like most things it’s not about how good you are, but about how much you enjoy it.  

Want to give it a try?

Visit the Live Well Telford directory or Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure Services websites for more information about local dance classes and groups: