On Thursdays you’ll find the most advanced dancers in Rebecca’s line dance class at the MountainView Aerobics room. These ladies and gentlemen really master some dances with a high degree of difficulty – and do it well. Bravo!
Dr. Mark Magdanz
Why line dance? The lessons provided to the SaddleBrooke and Ranch communities are designed to promote and maintain improved mental and physical health. How can an activity do this?
Classes and social parties provide one and a half to two and a half hours of interval exercise. They include written step instruction, on-line dance films for student study and in class auditory stimulation. Classes are designed to function as a community service.
Just what areas of your life can improve? To name a few: (1) Memory and learning; choreographed movements require memorization, concentration and reading skills. Learning new skills and activities is a proven booster of brain functional capacity. (2) Balance/coordination; Over 80 different movement skills may be learned in classes improving balance and coordination – major fall prevention. Turns also provide inner ear training and desensitization for balance control. (3) Exercise; with a fun activity providing mild to moderate cardio work out that you are likely to continue instead of getting bored and losing interest. (4) Movement against gravity strengthens bones with side motions (spine and legs) in slight excess of just walking. (5) Socialization; line dance gets you out of the house to meet new friends. (6) Music: music therapy has proven helpful in the maintenance and recovery of brain function. (7) All of the above also attack the issues of depression, fatigue and isolation we can experience with aging.
Rebecca teaches all three different levels of her class with an emphasis on humor, self-improvement and ultra-low stress. Students progress to the next level at their own pace or may stay at a favorite level forever. Level One/Beginners is Monday (Wednesday at the Ranch), Level Two has classes Monday and Tuesday (Wednesday at the Ranch), and Level Three, the most advanced dancers, meet Thursdays. Classes are restricted in size so you must register with Rebecca in advance to attend and winter 2016 classes are nearly full.
Student party/practice sessions are available for all skill levels. A great cardio and muscle memory session is the goal of these workouts. Sessions move fast from one dance to the next, last about an hour and have been clocked at 5,000 plus steps. Come prepared to laugh, move, learn, even perspire and expand your brain and memory.
Line dancing is fun and exercise. It is the No. 3 most participated in senior exercise worldwide because it’s fun and doesn’t hurt! For more information or to put your name on a class reservation list, contact Rebecca Magdanz at [email protected] or phone 818-2656. Rebecca is a full-time, 11 year resident of SaddleBrooke and she has provided line dancing lessons to SaddleBrooke since 2008 and SB Ranch since 2012.