Some of you know that I recently did a personal study of one of the many benefits of ballroom dancing — the exercise aspect of this wonderful form of movement.

I wore a pedometer for one week as I taught private and group lessons, then tallied the total miles moved during that one week period and divided them by the total number of hours danced. Granted, many of the dances racked up more miles than others because of their tempo, size of step etc., but in the long-run I feel that it all balanced out because a comparable amount of the dances were slow paced and or slow moving.

The result was that I moved 1.1 miles per hour as I taught and danced. Not bad at all for an enjoyable, smooth and social form of exercise. My day typically involves 6 to 8 hours of dancing and I like that I can enjoy having moved 6 to 8 miles by the end of my day!!

A Harvard Study on Aging and Exercise published in the 1999 issue of The British Medical Journal, found that vigorous exercise actually leads to a 2.5 year reduction in life expectancy. The study found that social interaction, eating out, going places and having fun contributed to a longer and healthier life.

Ballroom dancing is certainly a non-vigorous form of exercise — and a fantastic way to socialize and to have fun!!

"One of the greatest benefits of dance is that it's a cardiovascular workout that aids in flexibility," said Georgina Morgan, choreographer and president of the nonprofit organization DanceUmbrella.

So continue to enjoy this wonderful form of exercise! If you haven't begun yet, call on the Ballroom, and John Ross!

The Ballroom
977 Golf Course Drive
Rohnert Park, California 94928

Phone: 707-586-1136
Fax: 707-586-1136 (call first)
Email:johnrossdance@hotmail.com

Copyright © 2002 John Ross Enterprises
Serving Santa Rosa and other areas of Sonoma County since 1982!