fitbody
Dancing for Fitness and Fun by Janalee Wedenko
Step into Fitness
Dance your way to a beautifully strong and flexible body. by Sandra Murphy
to those already in shape, not to people that wanted to lose weight. So in 1974, Simmons opened Slimmons studio, fol- lowed by his classic exercise video, Sweatin’ to the Oldies, with motivating tunes like Dancing in the Street, Summer in the City and Loco-Motion; a plus—not everyone in his video is a size 0. Simmons and others have been helping people dance their way to fitness ever since.
R
Making Dance a Game In Portland, Oregon, Mara Woloshin was inspired to get a move on when she complained to her 15-year-old son, Benny, about her weight. “Benny challenged me to do some basic Wii Fitness and then Zumba Fitness,” says Woloshin. “I give myself the right to fail at most exercises and dance moves; I just keep moving and let my son give me tips, point- ers and instruction.” Benny puts in his own dance fitness time, plus keeps
mom on track for 30 minutes a day. The Wii video game keeps score. “I win sometimes; mostly with yoga, while he is terrific at dance stuff,” Woloshin says. “I’ve logged more than 1,200 days with the Wii so far, and love to shake my size 14 self. I’ve lost eight pounds and have built an incredible rela- tionship with my teenager. We dance, compete, sweat and encourage each other. “We also enjoy conversations before and after Wii
time. Are they meaningful? Sometimes. Does he laugh at me? Definitely. Does he look forward to our evening dance workouts together? Absolutely.” Wii games popular around the country include Just
Dance, versions one and two, and Just Dance Kids plus Gold’s Gym Dance Workout and Zumba Fitness.
natural awakenings March 2012 27
ichard Simmons grew up in the French Quarter of New Orleans where, he notes, “Lard was a food group and dessert mandatory.” Exercise studios were geared
of dance that can really fire up your core and make you feel sexy and amazing. More classical forms of dance such as ballet tone and stretch your body creating lovely lines and long muscle structure. Classical exercises like pliés help in engaging and toning the inner and outer thighs, buttocks and abdomen. When combined with the lengthening flow of the arms, your upper body will become strong and graceful, too. In recent years other dance forms such as hip hop, contemporary, lyrical jazz and ballroom dancing have become more popular. Find- ing open classes that offer ‘pay as you come’ options is a great way to try dancing and a fun new way to get in shape.
D Overall, any genre of dance is going to engage
muscles that you normally may not use, helping you feel great both physically and mentally. When you free your mind and body and let the movements come naturally, you get the benefits of an invigorating workout without feeling tired or bored. Even spending an evening dancing with friends at a local hot spot is great for your overall health. Get the most out of each experience and use your body to its fullest potential. May you have fun dancing your way to fabulous fitness and well- being in any form you choose.
Janalee Wedenko has been dancing for more than 20 years and has been teaching dance for fifteen years. She currently teaches in Salisbury Mills.
ancing, in its many forms, is a fun and creative way to becoming physically and mentally fit. Belly dancing is a beautiful and cultural form
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47