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| THE ROAD TO 100 FIT TIP #41, 2007 — Let's Dance
Social dancing, whether it's swing, square, line or another style, is a great way to get a great workout. It's fun, it's sociable and it's good aerobic training. Social dance can burn from 250 to 400 calories per hour for a 150 pound person — about what you get from a brisk walk. Dancing conditions the muscles in your legs and buttocks. Depending on how much arm movement you make, it can also help tone your arms and shoulders. Dancing can improve balance and coordination. In many ways it is very similar to a group exercise class.
To get the most fitness benefit out of social dance, observe the following guidelines:
- Keep moving continuously for at least a half hour, with only brief pauses between numbers.
- Move your arms and shoulders as much as possible within the confines of the type of dance.
- Make your movements big and sweeping, similar to a "Dancing with the Stars" contestant.
- Stand tall and erect, keeping your abs tight and your back arched.
As good as social dance is as a form of exercise, do not deceive yourself into thinking that it can serve as your only activity. You still need to get the muscular-skeletal benefits of weight training, and you still need to stretch regularly.
One other benefit of regular participation in social dancing. The more you do it, the better you will get. Over time, you can really impress friends and family at weddings. Take it from me. They don't call me Fred Astaire for nothing.
Answer to last week's fitness quiz:
What are cruciferous vegetables?
Cruciferous vegetables, also called Brassica Vegetables, include Arugula, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Watercress, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens, Mustard Greens, and Collard Greens, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Rutabaga, Napa or Chinese Cabbage, Daikon, Horseradish, Radishes, Turnips, Kohlrabi, and Kale.
Answer to last week's extra credit quiz:
What is the only state in the Union that does not have a state University with the name of the state in it?
New Jersey
This week's fitness quiz:
What is the single most preventable cause of death?
Extra credit quiz:
What is Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?
Corny Joke of the Week:
Bathroom scales: equipment which only seems to work correctly when one holds on to towel rail, stands on one foot and leans hard to the left.
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