Let’s dance

Fitness, yoga, Pilates, TRX, spinning, running… there are countless ways to keep fit. We understand better than ever that exercise is worthwhile; which is why many people are taking up a sport. Or at least giving it a try. Some with more success than others.

One activity that turns out to be very healthy – and also a lot of fun – is dancing. Funnily enough, dancing is not directly associated with sport or health. After all, you dance in a club, with friends at a party or at a festival. And not at the gym or in the park.

The fact that dancing is a very beneficial way of exercising becomes clear when you zoom in on what is going on in your body and in your head:

YOUR HEART DANCES WITH YOU
When you dance, your heart beats a little faster. Which makes your blood flow around your body faster. Your breathing also gets a boost. Which is logical, because it’s all related. And your body is totally fine with that; finally getting things working again.

PUT YOUR DANCE MUSCLES TO WORK
You also use all kinds of different muscle groups to dance which remain unused when sitting or standing. Even when you’re walking, a significant proportion of your ‘dance muscles’ are not activated. Dancing also exercises your ability to balance.

DANCING IS ABOUT MAKING CONTACT
Research shows that dancing reduces the risk of heart problems. Experts say dancing does this far more than walking, even though walking is already so healthy. And apart from exerting yourself vigorously, you quickly come into contact with others on the dance floor. That’s great!

DANCING CONNECTS
Dancing is as old as mankind and has a strong socialising and connecting function. Dancing promotes togetherness. At a party, everyone soon experiences the connecting effect of dancing. Even if you don’t know the people. How different is the atmosphere from a train compartment, for instance?

EVEN YOUR BRAIN CELLS BENEFIT
Dancing is also a wonder drug for your brain: it nourishes your grey matter and makes it stronger. This is because your physical exertion makes you produce what are called neurotrophic substances. And these act as building materials for your brain cells.

MAKE HAPPY HORMONES BY DANCING
And lots more happens in your head when you’re dancing: out of nowhere, endorphins bounce against your cranium. These hormones or signalling substances provide the ‘runner’s high’ or the ‘feel-good feeling’, adding to the pleasure of dancing.

DANCE FOR ETERNAL YOUTH
And yet another benefit: dancing also slows brain ageing.

We don’t know whether the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was a dancer. But he once wrote: “We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” And he had a point. Add to that the above 7 reasons, and let the beat run wild. Let’s dance.

How financially fit are you?
Besides a healthy life, you want a healthy pension. By staying aware of the pension market and react to it in a flexible way, we keep your pension in top condition. Do you already have a pension scheme with BeFrank? Then you can see how your pension is doing on your Personal Pension page. Here you will also find the most important updates. Do you not have a pension scheme with BeFrank yet? Ask your employer about the possibilities.