4 Amazing Benefits of Dancing and 5 YouTube Channels to Get Started
Experience the physical, mental and emotional benefits of movement wherever you go
Drop the shame surrounding your dance moves, log on to YouTube and enjoy the benefits of these 5 dance workouts and tutorials.
Whether you’re looking to sweat, trying to improve your dance skills or easing anxiety from work, dancing is a great way to not only burn calories but to cope with life’s stressors.
In a world where you may feel too shy to dance for fear of being judged, the physical, mental and emotional benefits are plenty and will always outweigh those snotty remarks or side-eyes. So let loose and bust a move!
But before jumping into it, let’s identify the ‘why’ power behind it.
Why dance? Here are 4 convincing reasons:
1. Weight management
Dance is just another form of exercise. It can keep you in shape like your daily jog or swimming would. For adults, The Department of Health and Human Services recommends between 2 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise which includes running, swimming, hiking and of course, dancing.
2. Improves muscle strength and balance
Dance is an all-consuming sport. Whether it’s African dance, tap or Zumba, the different levels of intensity and conditioning engage your entire body. This not only strengthens your muscles, but your core as well, which improves balance.
3. Improves cognitive performance
Research from the last two decades has found that both the physical and expressive elements of dance develops new neural connections to improve long-term memory and spatial recognition. More studies have shown that dance can improve certain cognitive skills such as memory, visual recognition and decision-making.
4. Boosts your mood
Dance is a creative art. It is another form of expression that can help improve your mental and emotional wellbeing by reducing life stressors and increasing self-esteem.
Let’s Get Started
Now that you know the 4 benefits of dancing and have no real argument against it, here are 5 dance workouts and tutorials that’ll bring out the superstar that you are (even if no one else knows it).
Fit Body by Ashley
Fit body By Ashley is a dance fitness and weight loss coach who offers dance videos dedicated to burning fat and feeling good. With eclectic music and moves catered to toning your arms, stomach, glutes and thighs, you will feel energized (and the burn) once you’re done with her workouts.
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To start, we share the same name. Instant points! But on a serious note, Fit Body by Ashley does a great job of acknowledging that people have different ways of moving their bodies. Some weight lift or run many miles as exercise. Others swim or do hot yoga. Ashley offers dance as another way to stay in shape and have fun, which is an unbeatable deal.
The Fitness Marshall
YouTuber and Choreographer Caleb Marshall leads dance sequences with his friends by his side. From high-tempo grooves by Dua Lipa to sensual tunes by Beyoncé, this channel offers a range of 3 to 4-minute dance workouts for all levels of dancers.
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The highlight of every workout with Marshall is his quirky commentary. Not only will you shake your moneymaker, but you will laugh — hysterically. This is all to say, you won’t only burn calories from his quick-paced, hard-hitting and sometimes sensual choreography, but his comedic antics will surely contribute to strengthening your core from laughing so hard.
Mike Peele
“Hip Hop Fit” creator and instructor guides you through his signature Hip-Hop moves with the help of his workout buddies. With his optimistic energy, solid music mix and high-energy workouts, you’ll feel the burn and have a good time.
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The best part of Peele’s workout videos is the repetition. With every new combo he presents, he provides ample opportunities to master it before moving on to the next combo. Even if you have two left feet, it is guaranteed that by the end of these dance workouts, you’ll confidently know the full choreography — and you can certainly add your own spin to it.
Auti Kamal
Kamal offers beginner and intermediate dance tutorials, how-to videos and vlogs. From contemporary to jazz dance tutorials to glimpses into classes she teaches, this channel is a great place to visit if you want to graduate from basic dance techniques to full-length choreography.
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Kamal incorporates how-to videos including floor work and pirouette practice which will help you in her intermediate dance tutorials. If you’re serious about learning how to dance, this is the channel for you.
Madfit
With over 4 million subscribers, Maddie Lymburner has made a name for herself not only with her HIIT and strength training workouts, but her easy-to-follow dance workouts that make you feel the burn. Given her subscriber count, Lymburner surely has and continues to motivate people to move their bodies and achieve their goals.
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Lymburner’s workouts provide you with enough time to adjust to one dance move before she moves to the next. So no worries, you won’t get left behind. To top this, she picks some of the grooviest tunes to workout to — and although you’ll feel the burn, your high vibes will tune it out.
The arts and wellness
It is no longer news that dance has mental and emotional benefits along with the physical. In addition to music, visual arts and writing, dancing is a creative practice that assists in overall wellness and coping.
This is the perfect time to develop your signature dance moves and rediscover a part of yourself. Unlearn the idea that certain people can’t dance — of course they can. Shake the excuse that you don’t have time — dancing in the bathroom and the kitchen count too! Feeling a little anxious or worried about a future task? Take a break and hit the dance floor. There is no right time or place to include enrichment activities into your daily life.
Convince your parents to join you. Dance with your kids. Zoom call a friend and try out these dance workouts or take on these routines on your own.
Whether your motivation is to shed pounds, learn some new dance moves, face a fear or shift anxious energy out of your body, these 5 dance workouts and tutorials are a great place to get started.
You know what they say: life is a dance. So why aren’t you moving your body yet?