Some members of the Los Alamos Scottish Country Dancers. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Maybe you’re young and you’re ready to commit to getting fit after sitting at your desk all day. Maybe you’d like to meet some new people in town. Maybe you’ve read some studies that point to the beneficial effects of regular exercise and its effect on the body and brain. You may even be at that age at which you’re starting to worry about how to avoid dementia and/or the deteriorating effects of social isolation.
What if you could find a hobby that’s truly enjoyable, simultaneously exercises the brain, mind, and body, promotes socializing, provides a great cardiovascular workout, costs almost nothing, and is accompanied by the invigorating, stirring sounds of Celtic-style music? That can all be found in the art form known as “Scottish Country Dancing”.
Why Scottish Country Dancing? Dancing provides a great way to improve muscle tone, strength, balance, stamina, respiratory function, cardiovascular function, and overall fitness. Scottish Country Dancing is accessible to people of all ages, sizes, shapes, and all levels of fitness. Numerous studies have shown that keeping up a regular habit of exercise, such as dancing, can have beneficial effects on the brain, including staving off dementia, depression, loneliness, Parkinson’s disease. According to a 2008 article in Scientific American magazine, a Columbia University neuroscientist posited that synchronizing music and movement—dance, essentially—constitutes a “pleasure double play.” Music stimulates the brain’s reward centers, while dance activates its sensory and motor circuits.
“Healthline” (a digital health and wellness website that provides evidence-based information on a wide range of health topics), lists 8 clear-cut benefits of dancing, as follows:
- It improves cardiovascular health
- Improves balance and strength
- Gentle on the body
- Boosts cognitive performance
- Challenges the brain
- It’s inclusive (there’s room for everyone!)
- It’s social
- It’s a mood lifter!
See https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/benefits-of-dance
If this sounds good to you, there’s a perfect opportunity coming up right around the corner!
Starting on Monday, September 8 th , the Los Alamos Scottish Country Dancers are hosting a new course designed just for learning “The Basics” of Scottish Country Dancing. Classes will be held at Fuller Lodge on the four Mondays of September, from 7:30-8:30 PM. Your first class is free, and subsequent classes are only $3.00 each.
Participants must be at least 18 years old. Soft-soled shoes are best for this class.
You don’t need a kilt.
You don’t need a partner.
And you don’t have to be Scottish.
Won’t YOU join the dance?
Need more information? Please contact: ullmann@losalamos.com, Eileen at 505.695.5507 (texting is best) or goodegg728@gmail.com. Or visit our website at: nmscottishdance.weebly.com