WHY IS DANCING SUCH GREAT EXERCISE? DOES IT OFFER ANY OTHER BENEFITS? IS IT TRICKY TO TAKE UP DANCING AS AN ADULT? WHAT IF YOU’RE A TERRIBLE DANCER?

One of the best ways to stick to an exercise program is to find a workout you enjoy. So if you’d prefer to be partying up a storm than slogging it out at the gym, dancing may be the perfect solution. From salsa to hip hop, from classes to home workouts, the endless options mean there’s something to suit everyone. Celebrity wellness expert Libby Babet, founder of The Upbeat fitness studio, explains why it’s time to boogie your way to better health …

“You only need to look at a dancer’s body to know that it’s a great way to stay fit and toned. It’s good for your cardio fitness, it makes you stronger, and it can help with balance and coordination, too. While I like to focus on health rather than weight, dancing can be a great way to lose weight if that’s your goal. If you want to be consistent with your movement, it helps a lot if you’re doing things you look forward to, not dread. Science has also proved that working out to a beat gets you better results in less time, and helps you maintain consistency with your workouts.”

“It sure does! Dance is always great for your confidence, plus it has a fun factor. Another benefit is that you can use different song tempos to help you achieve specific results, whether it’s more muscle tone, a stronger body, better cardio endurance or even increased mental resilience. At The Upbeat, we custom create the music and moves for every class based around a specific BPM (beats per minute, or musical tempo) that helps you get real, specific results.”

“If you can walk, then you can do some kind of dance! At The Upbeat, we teach a more athletic style of dance, so if you’re comfortable with regular HIIT-style training, you’ll probably enjoy it.”

“I get it, not everyone’s comfortable dancing.