Exercise can be a bit of a drag due to its repetitiveness, so why not break the cycle by considering dance as a new way to get fit? Whether you're grooving in your living room or hitting the dance floor at a club, dancing offers a unique combination of physical, mental, and emotional perks. Here are some of the reasons a full-body dance workout can benefit you.

Lose all the extra calories

Dancing makes for an efficient method to lose any unwanted extra pounds. Depending on how intense your type of dance session is, you can easily burn up to 400 calories in only 30 minutes. Rigorous dance routines like hip-hop dancing can even help you burn over 600 calories for every hour.

Sound mind and body

A dance workout can be exciting all around due to how different each routine can go. Sway to the smooth rhythms in a ballroom setting or feel the energetic swing brought about by tap dancing. With the many methods available, your body also enjoys the benefits of improved cardiovascular health, enhanced flexibility, stress reduction, and increased endurance.

Improved social interaction

While dance routines can be enjoyed solo, joining a group can make things more fun. Often a dance class involves getting to know all sorts of people from different walks of life. Socializing with others helps boost the mood and you might even make new friends along the way. You also help push away any feelings of isolation and loneliness since dance groups are encouraged to get close and boost one another’s potential through camaraderie in performing the routine.

No excuses here

Another benefit of a dance workout is how easily versatile it can be. There’s no excuse for skipping a dance routine since you don’t necessarily need an expensive gym membership or equipment to start busting a move. You can dance anywhere, anytime. It’s as simple as opening up a dance tutorial on YouTube while at home and following the steps.

How to get started

Need an extra push? Consider joining the Pound Fitness sessions offered by Sunshine Place. Pound Fitness is a full-body cardio session inspired by the energy and fun of playing the drums. It is an exhilarating cardio workout and music therapy paired in one. Students of all ages, especially seniors, dance to the beat, hitting the lightly weighted drumsticks called the Ripstix, while also exercising both body and musicality. This dance workout is easily modifiable, making it the perfect dance exercise for everyone with all fitness levels and abilities.

Pound Fitness workouts are held every Saturday from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. It is an eight-session course. Full course enrollees can enjoy two free sessions, bringing the total number of sessions to 10. They will also be entitled to attend at least three different physical activity classes, including Pound Fitness. Per session enrollment is also available. Classes are led by Pound Fitness instructor Neru Salas. Emily Osorio joins Salas in helping modify some steps for the elderly and physically challenged. The duo is best known for their energetic and engaging teaching style, inspiring their students to reach their fitness goals while having fun. Pound Fitness is part of Sunshine Place’s Step-Up program. Other classes valid for the Step-Up program include Chair Dancing, Dekada, Tap Dance, Yeba Indak, Tai Chi, and Social Ballroom.