The surprising benefits of dancing

 

 

By: Autumn Hill

 

 

 

           Dancing can be magical and transforming. It can breathe new life into a tired soul, make a spirit soar, unleash locked-away creativity and unite generations and cultures. But, is dancing healthy for you? What could be the benefits of dancing?

For generations, dancing has been a favorite when it comes to exercise and it can be fun for all ages. Dancing allows people of all ages, shapes and sizes to stay fit, in a variety of ways. Dance has a wide range of physical and mental benefits. Dancing can lead to improved flexibility of joints and muscles, increased motor strength, and endurance. Increased motor strength is a result of an increase in muscle mass from the physical demands of dancing. The increase in muscle mass results in an elevation of metabolism, since muscle tissue is more metabolically active than other tissue. Dance therapy is even being used to help treat depression.

           A Stanford University study states that dancing benefits your brain, noting that, “Dancing integrates several brain functions at once — kinesthetic, rational, musical, and emotional — further increasing your neural connectivity.”  Do all kinds of dancing lead to increased mental acuity though?  No, not all forms of dancing will produce the same benefit, especially if they only work on style, or merely retrace the same memorized paths.  Making as many split-second decisions as possible is the key to maintaining our cognitive abilities. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine even found that dancing is linked to a lower rate of dementia.

So, dancing can strengthen the heart, enhance physical confidence, improve your social outlook and strengthen the body muscles. On top of that, dancing is not only healthy for you, but can be a lot of fun. "Dancing is a lot of fun, and I like performing," says Jim Maxwell from the television show Dancing with the Stars.

In addition to the mind-boosting increase in blood flow to the brain that you get during any form of physical activity, researchers suspect that memorizing dance steps and staying in sync with the rhythm of the music promotes the growth of new neurons and activates connections between existing ones. So, when is YOUR next dance lesson?



Attention Deficit Disorder

By: Brad Tripp

            The crayons fall to the floor. The sounds of coloring against fresh dry wall are all Mrs. Doe can hear. She is furious at her son’s behavior. She smacks Jimmy’s hand and he runs away and cries. After a brief moment, she hears the markers against the dry wall yet again. Mrs. Doe takes him to the doctor the next day. Jimmy Doe is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADD is a common occurrence in many people nationwide, both young and old. 

            The true nature of the disorder is a missing chemical in the brain that helps control impulse. These missing chemicals cause short attention span. According to quillivan.com, a site about living well with ADD and ADHD, children with this disorder often fail at paying close attention, especially to the small things. People with ADD also tend to ignore when people speak directly to them. Mr. Krutzsch, a principal at Seckman High School, believes that a multitude of factors can affect ADD. He said students’ ADD can be impacted, both positively and negatively, by “…certain circumstances. It may be as simple as diet, exercise and interest level in the activity…”

According to Dr. Phil.com, a site with a well known psychological therapist (Dr. Phil) as its backbone, one way to help with ADD is to observe and get educated about the disorder and the medications one might take to help with their ADD. Chris Wolf, a student at Seckman High School, believes, “ADD is trouble focusing, but…medication helps.” ADD medications typically help calm a person down. 

ADD can be outgrown, but is not uncommon amongst adults too.  According to helpguide.org, a site about living with ADD, this diagnosis is not uncommon with adults. Some may live with it their whole lives and some show symptoms into early adulthood. 

There are many myths to ADD. For instance, some say ADD is nothing but a lack of will power.  In some cases, this may be true, but that’s usually incorrect. Another myth is that if you weren’t diagnosed as a child you cannot have ADD as an adult. This is very untrue, as ADD can be diagnosed at any point in a person’s life.  All in all, ADD is a common problem today and can be diagnosed at any time.  The challenges of ADD are beatable, no matter the obstacle.