How Dancing Can Improve Your Life and Health

Dancing has been a form of expression and communication for centuries, and it is not just an enjoyable activity but also has numerous advantages for both your physical and mental health. Whether you are dancing as a professional cheerleader, taking a dance class for an audition, or simply moving to music in the comfort of your own home, dancing is an excellent way to improve your life! 

Physical Health Benefits 

Did you know that dancing has a significant impact on your physical health? It is a great way to get some exercise, especially if you find traditional forms of workouts, like running or lifting weights, repetitive or less fun. Dancing is a fun and exciting way to stay fit and active. Here are its benefits: 

Improved Cardiovascular Health: Dancing is a great way to get your heart rate up and improve your cardiovascular health. When you dance, your heart rate increases, which can help lower your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.

Increased Flexibility and Range of Motion: Dancing involves a lot of movement and stretching, which can help improve your flexibility and range of motion. This can be especially beneficial for us women, who may experience a decline in flexibility and mobility as we age. 

Weight Loss: Dancing can be an excellent way to burn calories and lose weight. Depending on the type of dance, you can burn anywhere from 200 to 600 calories per hour, which takes you closer to your weight loss goals.

Improved Balance and Coordination: Dancing requires you to move your body in a coordinated and rhythmic way, which will improve your balance and coordination. (Read: 8 Best Moves to Strengthen Your Core)

Mental Health Benefits 

Besides its physical health benefits, dancing boosts your mental health. It is an excellent way to relieve stress, lift your mood, and improve your overall well-being. Here are some of the mental health benefits of dancing:

Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Dancing relieves stress and anxiety, which a lot of pro cheerleaders experience due to their busy schedules. When you dance, you release endorphins, which are natural mood boosters that reduce tension.

Better Self-Confidence: Dancing can be a great way to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. When you dance, you are expressing yourself in a creative way, which can help you feel more self-assured.

Improves Cognitive Function: Dancing has been shown to improve cognitive function, including memory, attention, and processing speed. This may be because dancing requires you to think and move at the same time.

Promotes Socialization: Last but not least, you get to meet new people and make new friends. It is also an excellent way to strengthen existing relationships and improve your social skills. These things are important in your dance career! 

Types of Dance Used In Pro Cheerleading

There are many different types of dance, each with its unique style and benefits. Below are some of the most popular types of dance that may be used in professional cheerleading:  

Ballroom Dancing: Ballroom dancing is a popular type of dance that involves partners moving in a coordinated and synchronized way. It's known to improve your coordination, balance, and cardiovascular health.

Hip-Hop Dancing: Hip-hop dancing is a high-energy style of dance that involves rapid movements and jumps. It gets your heart rate up and burns calories.

Ballet: Ballet is a classical style of dance that focuses on grace, balance, and poise. While ballet is a great technique, note that if you come out on the pro cheer audition floor with the grace of a swan, you might look too soft when measured against the other candidates. If you have studied ballet for years, please be sure to expand your dance styles and get focused coaching to become more versatile.

Bellydance: Bellydance classes are a great way to tone your stomach and loosen your hips and shoulders. It’s also a great style for working on hand movement and graceful arms.

Read more: What Is Jazz Dance? And 5 Basic Jazz Dance Steps


Need a Great Workout Routine for Your Pro Cheer Audition Prep?

Pro cheerleaders stay fit, flexible, and strong so they can give out their best performance in the arena. However, achieving that wow-worthy, toned physique doesn’t happen overnight. You need to arm yourself with the right daily workouts.

Thinking of becoming a pro cheerleader? 

We are offering you our fun, FREE (for a LIMITED time) POM FIT™ INTRO CLASS that teaches you beginner-friendly cardio moves.

To take your cheerleading fitness to the next level, we also have POM FIT™: GAMEDAY1™ - a series of challenging full-body cardio classes that include a body stretch class, kick stretch class, abdominal workout class, and more. 

Join a POM FIT™ class below:

POM FIT™ INTRO CLASS (Free for a LIMITED time)

POM FIT™: GAMEDAY1™ (USD 27.00)