Active Aging Presented by Public Health Seattle-King County

Staying active as you age is crucial for making the most of each year. It can be hard to find physical activities that are enjoyable enough for long-term repetition, though. Fortunately, dancing is an activity that’s not only fun but also great for your physical fitness.

Dancing for Your Health as You Age

The Health Benefits of Dance

Just like other forms of physical activity, dance can help improve your mental well-being alongside your physical wellness. Add in the music and rhythmic demands and the social aspects, and dancing can be one of the best activities for older adults.

Physical Wellness

Dancing demands strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular stamina. In almost every style of dance, you engage your full body and use several muscle groups. The natural changes in rhythm and direction help work different parts of your body, and by the end of a dance routine, you’re likely out of breath! For these reasons, dancing as a form of physical fitness is one of the best options at any age. Especially as you get older, though, dance provides an opportunity to target lots of muscle groups without high-impact activities. You might also improve your bone density, gait, and agility. 

Mental Well-being

Along with the physical benefits of dancing, this form of exercise can also help your mind stay sharp. Research shows that dance can help improve mood, reduce stress, and increase your feel-good chemicals like serotonin. The effort required to coordinate your physical movements with the music can also improve visual and cognitive processing, including memory and executive functioning. As you age, keeping these skills sharp is one of the best ways to stay active for years to come.

Dance Classes for Seniors

If you’re ready to try dance for physical, emotional, and mental well-being, there are plenty of options! Some classes are open to anyone, but there are specific groups designed to help seniors target the movement that best suits their abilities and needs.

Jazzercise

If you remember the Jazzercise craze in the 1970s, you’ll love this option. An updated version is popular across age groups now, and the founder (who’s in her ’70s!) still creates many of the current routines. The instructors at Jazzercise understand the importance of continuing movement as you age, and most of the Jazzercise classes are appropriate for all fitness levels. In the introductory courses, you’ll get a combination of fun cardio set to current hits and weight training. Instructors offer modified options for those who need a lower intensity. You can find a Jazzercise class near you here or check the on-demand video options!

Ballroom Dance

You don’t have to wear athletic gear while you dance for it to count as a workout. On the contrary, many of the moves in ballroom dance are great for improving your core muscles and flexibility — both crucial as you age. Whether you’re new to ballroom dancing or you’ve had some experience in the past, the USA Dance social dance clubs across the country are a great way to meet new people and enjoy some activity. If you fall in love with the sport, you can even compete in the senior category!

Zumba

Are you ready to take those Latin ballroom moves to the next level? Zumba Fitness is a popular dance workout that combines Latin style with strength training for great results. The catchy songs and energetic instructors will have you eager to return week after week. You can see all the class types here, but the options for seniors (Zumba Gold) and the water fitness version (Zumba Aqua) are excellent choices for lower-impact workouts.

Line Dancing and Square Dancing

Line dancing and square dancing are both excellent ways to combine the mental and physical aspects of dance. You’ll have to remember specific steps and instructions over a long period, helping to train your brain for long-term retention and flexibility. Search online for local square dance clubs, or head to a nearby community center for their activity schedule. Many country and western bars have weekly dance nights, too. These social dances are a great way to make new friends in a fun, laid-back environment.

Silver Sneakers Dance

The Silver Sneakers program offers seniors access to fitness classes and gym memberships with affiliated locations across the country. In addition, they have online dance classes that you can stream on your own time, right from the living room! Join either the line dancing or cardio dance class in real-time, or choose a guided video to take at your own pace later. Without the need to travel to a location for your workout, these dance classes make participation easy.

Take advantage of this time in your life to enjoy fitness and fun together with a new dance class!

Active Aging is presented by Public Health- Seattle & King County. Public Health- Seattle & King County recognizes the important and untold stories of innovation, service, and sacrifice by the Black community and supports efforts to improve equity and achieve social justice. We want everyone to get health insurance and access health care. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/health for health insurance, flu and COVID-19 testing locations.