Let us see why you should be dancing after 50? Dancing is a unique physical activity that has been recommended by experts for adults over 50 due to its immense health benefits.
As an aesthetic form of expression, dancing helps build passion and contributes to physical, intellectual, and social developments.

The versatility of dancing as a physical exercise makes it all the more suitable. Depending on your age, culture, and physical limitations, you can choose a dance style and get great results.

Here are 10 examples of how much good filling the air with your favorite song and passionately moving your body to its tune can do to your well-being. 

Improves heart and lungs functionality

  Increases muscular strength, endurance, and motor fitness

When you dance, you bring your muscles into action. You will engage many of the key muscle groups in your body.
So go on and dust up that stereo! Since dancing is an enjoyable sport, you can very comfortably practice it for more extended periods. This significantly improves the endurance level of your body muscles, enabling them to work harder and for longer tirelessly.

Improves balance and spatial awareness

What happens when you regularly exercise the muscles of your leg and feet for a while? They become more assertive and can better carry your body’s weight without getting quickly tired!
That’s what dancing does to you. And the more you practice it, the more balanced and spatially aware you become. As a result, walking becomes as comfortable and stress-free as you never expected.

Improves your Aerobic fitness

Aerobic exercises like dancing enable you to use as much oxygen as your body’s energy-generating process demands for that particular time.

When you take in more oxygen, various parts of your body, such as the digestive system, obtain sufficient oxygen for optimal performance. In addition, the American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise for 5 to 7 days per week.
And, one of the most effortless and most exciting cardio exercises you can engage in is dancing. This will undoubtedly increase your aerobic fitness by tremendous lengths. Unlike other aerobic exercises, dancing doesn’t require any special suit or for you to be in a specific place before practicing it. You just have to decide it’s time and get started. This, according to Rosemary Bointon, Author of Long Life, Fun Life, is one of the key reasons why Scientists Agree That Dancing Is the Best Way to Get Fit and Live Longer.

Increases confidence and self-esteem

Watching others dance can be fun until it’s our turn. But then, we tend to feel shy and would do anything to avoid being mocked. But, by practicing dance steps on our own or with the help of an instructor, we ease our way into improvement and feel little by little more confident to flaunt them before others.
So, go on; this continuous stream of little successes will help you develop a great sense of self-confidence and increase your self-esteem.

Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis

Older adults (50 and above) are more susceptible to bone disease, osteoporosis. Reports show that a critical way to avoid osteoporosis is by dancing and performing gymnastics.
According to their report, these two are highly osteogenic, which refers to having a high potential to build bone mass. When you regularly dance, your bones become more robust and can significantly reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Better coordination, agility, and flexibility

A study conducted in over four continents, including Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, targeting older adults within the age of 52-87, including some with pre-existing medical conditions, reveals plenty of details about how dancing offers older adults immense benefits, including better coordination, agility, and flexibility.

Significant improvements were recorded in flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, balance, cognitive ability, and cardiovascular endurance. They danced their way to a healthier life.

Improved psychological well-being

The Arts in Psychotherapy researched how dancing affects psychological well-being and discovered that certain mood-improving hormones are released within the body when dancing. These hormones relieve us of stress, anxiety, and depression, and we gradually feel better over time.
Experts have also proved dancing to have tremendous psychological and emotional benefits. Unfortunately, older adults are more likely to slide into depression from various past experiences they’ve accrued over the years. Luckily, dancing while listening to your favorite song can help you make lemonade out of every lemon life has given you.

Better social skills

Dancing with others can be a great way to develop and improve one’s social skills. It encourages communication, teamwork and helps adults become more involved in their immediate communities. It’s also a great way to socialize and meet new people with similar interests. This, in turn, helps to maintain a routine and derive more benefits from dancing.

It’s Fun and adaptable.

The fun and easy adaptability to your needs, limitations, or just moods make dancing easy to maintain in time. You will be working out without even noticing it while having a blast.

Bottom Line

The older we get, the less physically functional we become. So, of course, we’re less likely to pick interest in physically engaging tasks. Contrary to what your body’s telling you, getting started with an active hobby can improve your overall well-being. The more effective of them is also the most fun!
Ready to start dancing? I can’t wait to see what you’ve got.

If you are not sure what type of dance is best for you,

Check my post Ballet, Contemporary, or Ballroom dancing. Which dance style suits you better?

… Also, don’t miss my Tips and Routines, where I upload different dance steps, choreographies, dance-inspired workouts, and lots of other little tricks to spice up your life with dance, fill yourself with joy, and make sure you age to be at your best.