Tuesday morning in the Vermilion Room. Level 2 dancers in Line Dance with Rebecca smile for your pleasure. Dancers from HOA 1, HOA 2 and SaddleBrooke Ranch love their Tuesday morning sessions – especially as it gets hot.
Dr. Mark Magdanz
“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.” Albert Einstein
“Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter, Longer.” Richard Powers – Stanford University
You may not have heard about the New England Journal of Medicine report on effects of recreational activities on mental acuity in aging. This article is heavily excerpted from Richard Powers’ article of July 30, 2010. In a nutshell.
Twenty-one year study of seniors 75 plus through the Albert Einstein College of Medicine New York; funded – National Institute on Aging; published – New England Journal of Medicine. The method for objectively measuring mental acuity was monitoring rates of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The study explored if physical or cognitive activities influenced mental acuity. What they discovered was some activities had a significant beneficial effect. Other activities surprisingly had none.
Studied cognitive activities included reading books, writing for pleasure, crossword puzzles, playing cards and playing musical instruments. Studied physical activities included playing tennis/golf, swimming, bicycling, dancing, walking and housework. A big surprise of the study was that almost none of the physical activities appeared to offer any protection against dementia. There are cardiovascular benefits, of course, with all exercise, but the focus of this study was the activities’ effect on the mind.
There was one important exception: the only physical activity offering protection against dementia was frequent dancing.
Summarizing: Reading – 35% reduced risk of dementia; bicycling and swimming – 0%; doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week – 47%; playing golf – 0%; dancing frequently – 76%. The greatest risk reduction of any activity studied, cognitive or physical.
Now we all now know that every physical activity is good for you in some way! Key to physical/mental training is consistent participation for months/years – the rest of your lifetime. There are plausible arguments for why one type of exercise is superior to another, but the way to benefit from any one is to just do it.
Now – It is time to reserve for classes beginning June 26, 2017. There are three different class Levels and also three faster/fun hours of practice available each week. Build basic step knowledge/fitness. Levels 1, 2 and 3 build aerobic capacity, balance and foot speed. Different Levels challenge memory, strength/balance and endurance; gradual improvement through having fun. Level 1 Line Dance with Rebecca is foremost enjoying learning, exercise and life less seriously. Level 2 and 3 support the more experienced/fit dancers. Step into more difficult dancing when you know step definitions and performance. Summer series is nine classes in all levels of difficulty.
Want to Line Dance with Rebecca in June?
Rebecca is a 13 year SaddleBrooke resident and has led SaddleBrookers line dancing for 10 years. For information about Line Dancing lessons in SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch contact Rebecca; [email protected] or phone 818-2656.