Dance floor taking over gym as top exercise space

The dance floor is proving increasingly popular as a physical workout space for people regardless of age, gender, or income according to a New York exercise specialist.

“The best exercise program is one that is safe, balanced, promotes fitness and importantly, one people will do regularly because they enjoy it,” according to Polly de Mille, exercise physiologist at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

“The social aspects of dance help to make it very attractive for an increasing number of people. Scientific studies are now also telling us that many things make dancing an excellent fitness regimen with attractive benefits,” de Mille said.

“Balanced, targeted gym workouts can provide excellent fitness benefits as well but for some people, the ‘fun factor’ is missing at the gym.
“Those dancing, however, are often moving in unison, possibly facing one another or touching, and having a communal experience. Connection and cooperation with others is integral to the experience.”
Polly de Mille advises people considering dance as fitness therapy to make sure that they treat any existing pain first, that they wear good supportive shoes (not necessarily stylish dance shoes) and that they pace themselves and not get carried away with the dance, good fun though it may be.