Dance for fun.

Can you spot me in the above pictures?

Past full week, I have been partying hard. And I am loving it. There is a whole group of people in Delhi who have formed various salsa clubs. They are fun loving and die hard salsa fans. The lights are dim, the music is pulsing and couples are circling the dance floor. Besides Salsa, we also do Merengue. There are two more awesome dance forms that need mention here- Bachata and Zouk. These are very close and sensual dance forms.

Salsa is a fantastic way of keeping fit because, the movements of the dance require the use of various muscles in the body. Like swimming, you naturally start to tone up as you dance. You will also find that your stamina increases and gets better the more you dance, which is perfect if you hate exercise or going to the gym.

Salsa is so much fun, elegant and sexy, and the sound of the music and atmosphere in Salsa clubs is electric. So much so that you are generally oblivious to the fact that you are excercising while dancing and enjoying yourself. The movements of salsa are also great if you already go to the gym but want suppler tone. Salsa clubs are friendly, relaxing and once you learn the dance, the feeling is even greater.

Dancing offers a great deal of physical, mental and spiritual benefits.

Physical benefits are many. Dancing recruits large and small muscle groups, which allows the development of body awareness as muscle strength increases. The heart and lungs also benefit from the engagement of all muscle groups in movement. Side to side moves help strengthen weight bearing bones in the legs. Dance also decreases bone mass loss, which prevent osteoporosis.

Posture is also improved from the development of body awareness, at the same time that balance and stability are greatly enhanced thorough dancing. Additionally, dancing promotes the development of core strength. A flatter stomach and a strong mid section are wonderful results of dancing because recruitment of abdominal and back muscles is the "core" of dance.

Mental sharpness is exercised through dance by learning choreography and memorizing step sequence and styling. The brain is fully involved in the activity as new connections are made through insightful discoveries on how the body moves as a result of applying the new knowledge. Intellectual involvement aids in stress relief because individuals focus on the activity while temporarily "forgetting" about their busy lives and schedules.

Spiritual wellness is achieved though dancing because each participant gets the satisfaction of learning and performing new moves. Also, socialization is inevitable in dancing as participants interact with each other and celebrate each other's successes. And let's not forget one of the most seductive reasons for dancing: having fun!

Dancing is the ultimate form of exercise. It is non-impact, high intensity and a mood enhancer. It also promotes life style changes that positively affect the body, the mind and the spirit. You get all in one: complete wellness with every dance step you take.