Swing of Things: Hit the Dance Floor ‘Just Because’

It’s time for you to change the trajectory of 2020. Throw caution to the wind and get in the swing of things by tackling a new hobby designed to improve your physical fitness and boost your mental health.

 

As Americans cope with teleworking, remote schooling and social distancing guidelines, everyday decisions weigh heavily. Simply taking the kids to the park on a picnic is fraught with new considerations and accommodations. It is becoming harder to remember a time when we made a spontaneous decision and tried something new just because we had the urge. Fred Astaire Dance Studios encourages you to celebrate National Just Because Day on August 27 by signing up for a dance class at your local studio or logging on to a streaming lesson.

 

According to various media reports, National Just Because Day started in the 1950s as a wholesome family holiday celebrating spontaneity, when Joseph J. Goodwin of Los Gatos, California, turned the surprise gift of a transistor radio for his wife into a family holiday. If you’ve become complacent and predictable over time, National Just Because Day is the perfect time to shake things up.

 

Being spontaneous has numerous health benefits. Spontaneity reduces stress levels, increases creativity, boosts confidence and increases energy levels. Being spontaneous can also help reduce the guilt and negativity many Americans are suffering from as they try to perform at the top of their game during this difficult time.

 

Dancing is a “just because” decision that’s fun and can improve your health and wellness. Here are just a few ways dancing can add joy to your regular routine.

 

Physical Fitness. Dancing burns fat and boosts your metabolism. Breaking a sweat doing the salsa and swing will help increase your endurance and improve muscle strength. Dancing helps stretch your muscles, which can increase flexibility. It also reduces muscle pain and joint soreness. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders these past few months are keeping many Americans tuned in to their televisions and living a sedentary lifestyle. Dancing offers up a fun way to get off the sofa and get your body moving. Take a look at these dancers from Entity Allstars High Energy Dance Troupe in London as they perform a fast-paced number on “Britain’s Got Talent,” a television variety show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxcCW5y0dws&t=116s

 

Mental Health. Learning new dance moves will give you confidence and reduce stress. Cutting loose on the dance floor is an opportunity to cast your worries aside for a brief time. Dancing is a low-impact workout that triggers your endorphins, the body’s built-in stress reliever. It also helps improve breathing techniques, which can lead to mental clarity and calm your nerves. In this video, Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten perform a contemporary dance to “How to Save a Life,” by Ray Chew Live on “Dancing With the Stars,” a television dance competition show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slIOwxk9nOw

 

Fun! Fred Astaire Dance Studios believes life is better when you dance. Their passion is to enrich lives in an atmosphere of kindness, warmth and fun. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has locations across the country and around the world. The dance chain recently added an Online Lesson Platform to offer a solution for dancers who prefer taking a lesson from the comfort of their home. The Online Lesson Platform offers hundreds of online dance lessons as well as live, streaming lessons with some of its top instructors. Check out how much fun these dancers are having during a surprise flash mob in London. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-hSDyy0o-E

 

Take advantage of National Just Because Day to get out of your daily rut and improve your mental and physical health. If you’re ready to have some fun, contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios location to learn more about scheduling a lesson.