Fun & Fitness! Swimsuit weather is fast approaching, so there’s no time like the present to start losing those unwanted pounds. If you’re looking for a fun alternative to jogging on a treadmill or pumping iron at the gym, a dance class at Arthur Murray Riverside may be the answer.
Blackwell, a Tournament of Champions Top Instructor, recommends dancing for 45 minutes three to four times a week for optimum results. Along with facilitating weight loss, dancing is an excellent way to stay healthy and happy. Several studies report that dancing will help prevent everything from Alzheimer’s disease to heart disease to depression. Ballroom dancing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia, according to a 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study also found that some Alzheimer’s patients had the ability to recall forgotten memories when they were dancing. “There seems to be no end to the health benefits of dancing,” Blackwell says.
Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin agrees. “Whenever I’m at events and places with music, I will dance,” she told the New York Times. “That exercise is medicine. It’s better than most pills.” All of the instructors at Arthur Murray Riverside are certified and highly trained in the latest techniques and styles. Students have the ability of taking private and group lessons, and free practice parties are held every Friday evening and twice a month on Tuesday evenings for current students. Arthur Murray Riverside also offers classes for kids. “That’s really needed in today’s world. There are too many benefits our kids can receive from ballroom dancing” Blackwell says.
Students can learn the rumba, cha cha, tango, salsa, swing, ballroom and many other popular dance steps. “Every time you dance, you get a fullbody workout,” says Mike Blackwell, a dance instructor and co-owner of the Arthur Murray location. “The best part is that you have so much fun you don’t even realize that you’re exercising.” And consider the results: A 190-pound person will burn more than 350 calories doing 45 minutes of fast ballroom dancing, according to the calorie-burning calculator at www.healthstatus.com. Arthur Murray students have had phenomenal weight-loss results practicing the Lindy Hop, jive, salsa, samba, swing and other dances, losing as many as 60 pounds in six months.
Arthur Murray Riverside: 3699 Sunnyside Drive, Riverside
Open 1 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed on Saturday and Sunday For a limited time, the studio is offering an introductory lesson for $29 per couple.
951-684-7767, www.amurrayriverside.com
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