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When people think of exercising, their minds might immediately go to running, indoor spin, a HIIT boot camp, pumping iron at the gym, and more. Dancing rarely makes the top 5 when searching for top exercises, but it should! It’s not just an art form, it’s a whole-body exercise that can make you feel amazing. But dancing doesn’t just benefit your body, it also benefits your mind and even your soul. Not to mention that it’s a valid form of exercise for people of all ages that’s so fun, it doesn’t even feel like exercise.
Dancing promotes better brain health
Photo by Diego Rosa on UnsplashDancing isn't just a workout for your body; it's also a workout for your brain! Research shows that busting a move can actually boost your memory and keep dementia at bay. Imagine getting better at remembering where you left your keys! Wouldn’t that be great? Plus, challenging yourself to master choreographies works your brain in all the right ways, improving your planning and organizing skills. Who knew shaking your booty could make your mind sharper too? The more you know…
It can make you more flexible
Photo by Brannon Naito on UnsplashSay goodbye to feeling stiff as a board! When you dance, you learn to move your body in ways you didn’t think possible for you. Dancing loosens up the joints and stretches the muscles, so it can improve your flexibility overall. It can also improve your mobility, which is particularly important as we get older.
Dancing melts the stress away
Photo by Michael Dam on UnsplashFeeling stressed, overwhelmed, or grumpy? Just dance it out! It’s amazing how quickly a little dancing session or workout can give you a boost of feel-good hormones. Sometimes, that’s all you need to get through the day or just give your mind a break. Dancing can be liberating, and it can feel like hitting the reset button in your mind. Once you’re done, you’ll have a bit of a clearer head and a better disposition to tackle whatever made you stressed or grumpy in the first place.
It can help with depression
Photo by Olivia Bauso on UnsplashThe thing that makes dancing so effective as a stress management strategy also makes it helpful if you’re dealing with depression. Dancing to upbeat songs is a natural way to increase your levels of serotonin. That’s why this activity never fails to lift our spirits, whether we’re doing it alone in our rooms, with a partner, or with a group of people. Combined with therapy work and other strategies, dancing can help you manage depression and other forms of mental health conditions.
Dancing can help you reach your weight loss goals
Photo by Mike Von on UnsplashIf you’re working on shedding a few pounds and you often get bored with cardio workouts on the treadmill, dancing is a good alternative. For example, Latin dance classes may look easy, but you’ll work your entire body, and you’ll be sweating as much as you would on a stationary bike, treadmill, or stair master—if not more! Combined with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, your weight loss goals will be easier to achieve.
You’ll get a burst of energy
Photo by Levi Guzman on UnsplashSometimes, we need a little pick-me-up, but we’ve already had too much coffee. Instead of having another cup of joe, why not play your favorite songs and get moving? Regular dance sessions will not only boost your physical performance but also give your energy levels a boost. When you’re done dancing, you’ll feel ready to take on the world or, you know, to just finish your work for the day, which is also a big feat.
Dancing can improve your cardiovascular health
Photo by Luke Chesser on UnsplashDancing is good cardio and a form of endurance exercise, so it’s linked to improving heart health. Studies have found that dancing makes it likely to die from cardiovascular disease because it improves cardiovascular endurance. If you want to have a stronger heart, adding dancing to your daily routine is one of the habits that will help you achieve better heart health.
It will improve your coordination, balance, and strength
woman standing on dockPhoto by Drew Colins on UnsplashWhen you’re dancing, you’re feeling the music, and you’re just in the zone. You don’t realize that with every twist and turn, you’re working on your coordination, balance, and strength. Dancing works your body from every angle, so all your muscle groups get involved in one way or another. Improved coordination, balance, and strength will help you in your everyday life because they’re essential for movement.
Dancing offers artistic expression
person hand standing on concrete roadPhoto by Keenan Constance on UnsplashDance isn't just about following steps; it’s interpreting and feeling the music, it’s telling a story with your body. Whatever music genre you prefer to move to, dancing will allow you to express yourself in an entirely different way. Whether you're into urban, ballet, cumbia, ballroom, or anything in between, there's a dance style for everyone, and every style has a unique expression. We recommend you explore as many styles as possible to find the one that makes you feel the most alive.
It gives your self-esteem and confidence a boost
Photo by Matthew Hamilton on UnsplashBecause dancing is all about learning how to move your body to express yourself, it’s a great way to improve your self-esteem and confidence. Every time you master a new dance move, you will feel great about yourself and your abilities. With that comes a sense of self-assuredness and confidence in your body. That will feed and strengthen your self-esteem, and even help you overcome body image issues.
In the sea of men that is athletics, women are fighting tooth and nail for their long-overdue recognition. Among them, Latina athletes are ferocious in their pursuit of excellence, and they’re already changing the game, trailblazing for the next generation.
These 5 Latina athletes have overcome enormous challenges, broken significant barriers, and are actively leaving their mark on athletics.
Tatiana Suarez
Tatiana Suarez is of Mexican descent and an impressive mixed martial artist who has overcome the odds both inside and outside the ring. It’s safe to say Tatiana was born with a passion for wrestling since she started doing it right before her fourth birthday. She started her career in 2013, and her wrestling background was already so impressive, it was a struggle to find an opponent for her first amateur fight.
After overcoming more hurdles than most people face in their lifetime, Tatiana made her MMA debut in 2014 with a TKO in her first round. Her star has been rising ever since. She’s had many notable wins, including the strawweight tournament of The Ultimate Fighter 23. As is the case with a contact sport as demanding as wrestling and MMA, Tatiana sustained severe injuries. During the course of treatment, doctors discovered cancer which put Tatiana in a different kind of fight - a fight for her very life.
Tatiana’s herculean battles inside and outside of the ring are told in a recent HBO documentary, aptly named The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez. The documentary itself also broke barriers when it was released, becoming the first feature documentary about a Latina athlete to be made by HBO.
Catarina Macario
If you haven’t been inspired to root for Team USA in soccer quite yet, that time has probably arrived. Catarina Macario, born in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, is the first player born outside of the United States to qualify for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, and her performance is showing everyone why she earned that history-making spot.
Catarina is a versatile player who shines as an attacking midfielder and a center forward, which provides a distinct advantage in the sport. When she’s not playing for Team USA and contributing to their powerhouse success, she’s playing for Chelsea in the English Women’s Super League.
Gianna Woodruff
Gianna Woodruff is a Panamanian track and field athlete, and she’s considered one of the best Latina athletes in the discipline. Though she was born in Los Angeles, she decided to compete for Panama to honor her mother’s native country and champion her Latinidad.
In the Pan American Games Santiago 2023, Gianna won the gold medal in the women’s 400m hurdles and wrote her name in the record books. This is the first time Panama holds the women’s 400m hurdles record. She made history but noted that she’s ready for other Latina athletes to share the stage with her. In an article from the World Athletics Organization, she says: “I don't want to be the only one here anymore. I want other Panamanians, other Venezuelans, and everyone from South America to be on this big stage with me.”
Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi is an American professional basketball player of Argentine descent with an impressive career in the WNBA. She’s one of the top 15 players in the history of the WNBA and earned the nickname “White Mamba” from Kobe Bryant.
Diana has won five Olympic gold medals, which is a historic number for a Latina basketball player. She has also won a WNBA Championship, an NCAA championship, and a FIBA World Cup. In 2023, at the age of 41, she became the first WNBA player to score 10,000 points in her career.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
Hailing from La Isla del Encanto in Puerto Rico, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn is another amazing track and field athlete inspiring countless Latinas in her sport and beyond. Jasmine made her Olympic debut in 2016. Camacho-Quinn has been focused on her craft while representing her Puerto Rican pride ever since.
In 2020 she became the first Afro-Latina and the second Puerto Rican to win a gold medal for the 100m hurdles at the Olympics in Tokyo. Jasmine also came close to the gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, missing by only 0.01. Even so, she still had a great season, and her future doesn’t appear to be losing any steam at all.
The Queer Gym is an online gym owned by Nathalie Huerta, or Coach Nat as her clients know her, that works to create an inclusive space for everyone looking to make healthier lifestyle choices - regardless of how you identify.
COVID had a big impact on The Queer Gym’s operations with the pandemic leading to the closure of the gym’s physical location. With that came a new era of opportunity for Huerta and the mission of The Queer Gym: to create an even more inclusive method of delivering high-quality workouts, education, and offerings fully online.
The Queer Gym was launched in 2010 in Oakland, California, as an inclusive, safe place to work out that included gender-neutral locker rooms and facilities. Huerta previously worked as a fitness coach in other gyms only to notice that once she cut her hair to be less “feminine presenting” (in her words) that she experienced a significant change in how she was treated.
Huerta’s work helps transform and challenge gender norms that are often harmful for the queer community. From making an active effort to educate herself on everything from diet recommendations for those undergoing hormone therapy to creating entirely new class offerings to fit every kind of schedule, Huerta is achieving success by being the epitome of adapting with the times while caring for her customers.
Regular classes offered include the cleverly named Bicep-tuals class for strength training, Anti-Fascist Fight Club for cardio and kickboxing, and so much more. Social events also supplement the community giving The Queer Gym clients that extra sense of connection, making it truly an experience for everyone.
To find out more about The Queer Gym, visit their website here.