Cancer Prevention Kick Up Your Heels and Dance

A Zumba® passion had positive effects for Karen Franklin to beat her breast cancer. Experts from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, state this story of survival reminds everyone how important exercise really is for your health.

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist PhD., at MD Anderson states either way it does not matter if you are receiving treatment or attempting to avoid developing cancer, exercise makes the body stronger. When you pick a fun workout like dance classes, it is easy to obtain the thirty minutes of daily exercise required to maintain a healthy weight and decrease the risk for certain kinds of cancer.

Ms. Franklin noted that by improving her fitness level (her choice Zumba®) had aided her in avoiding depression and the general side effects commonly associated to chemotherapy. The upbeat of the Latin music, the friendship and the dancing made it feel as it was a treat. It had motivated her to keep working out so her body could fight the cancer.

MD Anderson Cancer Center advocates to both men and women to work fitness into their daily routine. Below are three popular dance classes that aide in igniting a diminished workout routine.

Zumba®

Zumba® employs aerobic moves based mainly on Latin dances. Moves are repeated and easily adjusted for a high or low workout.

Theme: Latin music such as the salsa and reggaeton along with other world music like the Samba.

Movements used: Swaying hips and arms while marching in place, stepping side to side, forward and back.

Health Benefits: The high energy and fast paced movements give a good cardio workout that burns fat and builds your endurance. Muscles become strengthened by pulling them in a variety of directions. Students who attend on a regular basis most of the times lose weight due to the one hour class being able to burn off 1,200 calories.

Nightclub Cardio

Nightclub cardio is a general nightclub feeling with strobe lights, loud music and easy to follow choreography.

Theme: 80's, 90's, old school, hip-hop, dance.

Movements used: Heel kicks, free dance, side to side step touch.

Health Benefits: The aerobic workout gets the heart pumping, boosts energy, aides in burning calories and strengthens legs, abs and arms.

Belly dancing

Belly dancing uses a low impact workout by using controlled movements which isolate different areas of the body. These areas include the hips, shoulders, chest and stomach.

Theme: Traditional Middle Eastern dance music, Flamenco.

Movements used: Spins, turns, shimmies and arm movements.

Health Benefits: Concentration on the hip and belly area which aides in trimming excess belly fat which in turn aides to decreases the risk for colorectal cancer and possibly pancreatic, breast (after menopause) and uterine cancers according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

It is noted that there is no such thing as one dance class fits everyone. If you pick the one you will enjoy, you will more like stick with an exercise routine and maintain a healthy body throughout the years ahead.

Mayo Clinic has found that dance can aide in:

Reducing stress

Increase energy

Improve strength

Increase muscle tone and coordination

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute it does not matter what type of dance you prefer it can:

Decrease your risk for coronary heart disease

Decrease blood pressure

Aide in weight management

Strengthen leg and hip bones

Dance is an exceptional form of exercise it gives you health heart benefits of an aerobic exercise and allows for social interaction.

One study did find that dance can decrease the risk of Alzheimer's Disease and other types of dementia.

Calories burnt on some dances:

Swing 235 an hour

Ballroom 265

Ballet 300

Salsa 420+

Aerobic dancing 450+
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