Dancing Is the Best Medicine
The Science of How Moving to a Beat Is Good for Body, Brain, and Soul
-
-
5.0 • 1 Rating
-
-
- $9.99
-
- $9.99
Publisher Description
“Lively and enlightening.”—Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post
“[A] zippy guide to better health.”—Publisher’s Weekly STARRED Review
Discover why humans were designed for dancing—and learn how to boogie for better health—with two neuroscientists as your guide.
Dancing is one of the best things we can do for our health. In this groundbreaking and fun-to-read book, two neuroscientists (who are also competitive dancers) draw on their cutting-edge research to reveal why humans are hardwired for danceshow how to achieve optimal health through dancing
Taking readers on an in-depth exploration of movement and music, from early humans up until today, the authors show the proven benefits of dance for our heart, lungs, bones, nervous system, and brain. Readers will come away with a wide range of dances to try and a scientific understanding of how dance benefits almost every aspect of our lives.
Dance prevents and manages illness and pain: such as Diabetes, arthritis, back pain, and Parkinson’s.Dance can be as effective as high intensity interval training: but without the strain on your joints and heart.
Dance boosts immunity and lowers stress: it also helps reduce inflammation.
Dance positively impacts the microbiome: and aids in digestion, weight loss, and digestive issues such as IBS.
Dance bolsters the mind-body connection: helping us get in tune with our bodies for better overall health.
We’re lucky that one of the best things we can do for our health is also one of the most fun. And the best part: dance is something anyone can do. Old or young, injured or experiencing chronic pain, dance is for everyone, everywhere.
So, let’s dance!
Types of dance featured in the book:
Partner dance (salsa, swing dancing, waltz)BalletHip hop
Modern
Jazz
Line dancing
Tap dancing
And more!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Neuroscientists Christensen and Chang take a look at the benefits of dancing in this zippy guide to better health. They make a solid case that dancing can improve problem-solving skills, help the body relax, increase socialization, and strengthen one's sense of community. They also describe the positive impact of dance on heart health, joint strength, and weight loss, and suggest that the progression of conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's disease may be slowed by dance. A "Dance Test" rounds things out and helps readers find a style to suit them: ballet is best for solo dancers, Argentine tango suits creative improvisers, and modern dance is great for those looking to express their feelings. Christensen and Chang are "dancers by night" and consider their subject as both scientists and participants, offering plenty of fun anecdotes, such as when Christensen was a child and missed her pony, she would perform a special dance to Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Waters," despite not understanding the lyrics. Readers looking for a prompt to get their bodies moving would do well to start here.
