Dancing can be magical and transforming. It can breathe new life into a tired soul; make a spirit soar; unleash locked-away creativity; unite generations and cultures; inspire new romances or rekindle old ones; trigger long-forgotten memories; and turn sadness into joy, if only during the dance.
On a more physical level, dancing can give you a great mind-body workout. Researchers are learning that regular physical activity in general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age. Exercise increases the level of brain chemicals that encourage nerve cells to grow. And dancing that requires you to remember dance steps and sequences boosts brain power by improving memory skills.
There has been some promising research in this area, according to Rita Beckford, M.D., a family doctor and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. For instance, a 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ballroom dancing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia. Research also has shown that some people with Alzheimer's disease are able to recall forgotten memories when they dance to music they used to know.
Whether it's ballet or ballroom, clogging or jazz, dance is great for helping people of all ages and physical abilities get and stay in shape. There's even chair dancing for people with physical limitations. A 150-pound adult can burn about 150 calories doing 30 minutes of moderate social dancing.
Like other moderate, low-impact, weight bearing activities, such as walking, cycling or aerobics, dancing can help:
So if you're tired of the treadmill and looking for a fun way to stay fit and healthy, it's time to kick up your heels!
Dancing is a great activity for people age 50 and older because you can vary the level of physical exertion so easily, according to Marian Simpson, a retired dance instructor and president of the National Dance Association.
For instance, people just getting back into dance or physical activity can start out more slowly, then "step it up a notch" by adding things like dips and turns as they progress, says Simpson. The more energy you put into a dance, the more vigorous your workout will be.
Although some dance forms are more rigorous than others - for instance, jazz as opposed to the waltz - all beginners' classes should start you out gradually. Ballroom dance, line dancing, and other kinds of social dance are most popular among people 50 and older. That's because they allow people to get together and interact socially, while getting some exercise and having fun at the same time. Dancers who have lost partners can come alone and meet new people, since many classes don't require that you attend as a couple.
If your doctor hasn't restricted your activity in any way, you're ready to rock, says Beckford. If you haven't been active or seen the doctor in a while, ask yourself the following questions:
Source: Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Inc., 1994
You should make an appointment to see your doctor if you answer "yes" to any of the questions above.
If you don't know what kind of dance you might like, the best thing to do is experiment. If you used to dance and are getting back into it, you can pick up where you left off. Some adults decide to resume ballet classes after years of having had them as children.
If you take a class, give it some time before deciding you don't like it, recommends Colleen Dean, program coordinator for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Try going with a friend and keep with it for at least a month. You can find dance classes at some legions, dance studio, health club, or community recreation center. Some YMCAs, churches, or synagogues offer group dance classes followed by a social hour. Taking dance classes from Christiaan and Deborah is both fun and healthy.
Here are some forms of dance you might want to explore:
Regent casino has social dances with live bands and are open several nights of the week. Often, you can take a class before the dance begins.
You also can join our dance club that meets regularly at different places.
Dance and Healing
Creation is linked to Dance - the movement of the Soul - as it blends sound, light, and color in rhythmic patters of geometry that opens our souls and allow us to flow into other places where we are the creators.
Dancing as a way of releasing, healing and connecting with each other and our divine source dates back tens of thousands of years, and can be found in thousands of cultures the world over.
We are energy beings. Our feelings and emotions are energy, and as energy they are meant to move. Dance is a perfect way to vibrate and move this emotional energy, thereby restoring the body to its natural order.
Dance to heal yourself and your community, and to expand your radiance, awareness, presence, aliveness and passion.
Dance is one of the oldest forms of self expression.
It is an expression / language of the soul that dates back since the beginnings of time.
The art of dance flows through the soul as it does through the universe creating a way for musical frequency to express itself.
In rituals dance can expression the essence of that which one desires.
The movements of the arms in many dances are similar to the arm motions of ancient civilizations. These are usually slow graceful sweeping motions used to move energy or to communicate.
Put on some music and dance!!
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." Some others refer to Reiki as universal energy.
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.
Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.
While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.
A full Reiki Treatment lasts approximately one hour depending on the individual’s specific needs. Call or email us for more information.