Start Dancing to Lose Weight – Dance Forms That Help You Shed Those Kilos

Dancing is a great calorie-burner and it is best when it comes to having a lot of fun. This article tells you whether you can dance your way to weight loss and the different styles and forms available to you.

Can You Lose Weight by Dancing?

If you’ve always wondered “Does dancing burn calories?”, then the answer is yes, it does help you maintain or reduce your weight.

Dancing for weight loss is fantastic not only because it targets different muscle groups and has compound movements, but also gets you in shape without making you feel like you’re doing exercise. Any moderately intense dance workout can help you burn between 400 to 700 calories and these numbers can go even higher depending on the duration and intensity.

Different Dance Forms to Help You Lose Weight

The good news is that there are many different kinds of dance workouts for beginners. The important thing is to just start and not worry about the details. Over time, you’ll perfect your form and your moves will flow naturally. Here is a list of the best weight loss dances:

1. Zumba

Zumba is one of the best workouts for weight loss where you dance to funky tunes and mostly Latin American music. It burns calories, so it’s a perfect option for those who want to sculpt and tone up their body. We can tell you one thing – Zumba dance for weight loss works.

How It Helps

Zumba helps those who want to tone their abs and back. It falls under HIIT training where slow moves are mixed with fast but short-interval ones. This puts you in the fat burning mode for longer and helps you stay there.

2. Freestyle

Freestyle dancing has no rules and that’s the fun part about it. Dance as long as you want; how you dance will depend on the style and beats of the music. The good news is you’ll feel amazing and since there are no rules, literally anything goes.

How It Helps

You learn how to sync your body movements with the music which is a huge plus. As a result of this, your flexibility improves and your energy levels go up too. 30 minutes of this every day and you’ll be shedding those pounds away. You can even do this solo as well.

3. Hip Hop

Hip hop makes use of stunning dance moves that work your whole body, specifically the hips, abs, and waistline. It’s also an awesome fat burning dance workout.

How It Helps

Hip hop dancing can get really intense, thus making it a high-energy level based workout. If you’re experienced, it’ll be perfect for you. Besides, it will help you burn anywhere upwards of 250 calories in a one-hour session. There are isolation movements involved with tons of cardio which means you can really torch that belly fat.

4. Belly Dancing

Belly dancing is way more than just shaking your belly. It involves slow and controlled movements which tone your body.

How It Helps

Belly dancing slows you down and hones the flexibility and flow of your body. It makes use of isometric movements and boosts your blood circulation too. You can also build a solid core foundation with the low-impact movements without adding pressure on your joints. If you suffer from poor posture, it helps with that too.

5. Ballet Dancing

Ballet dancing is not just for girls. It can be done by adults as well. This dance form improves your coordination, flexibility, stamina, endurance, and so much more.

How It Helps

First of all, ballet involves slow and graceful movements which makes it perfect for beginners. There is no stress on the joints and you end up toning your body naturally. Plus, you can learn how to tell a story through those flowing movements and even impress your friends.

6. Salsa Dancing

Salsa dancing is the perfect dance form for beginners. It makes use of quick and energetic moves to get the blood pumping. It’s also perfect for dancing in twos and helps to bond better through dancing.

How It Helps

You’ll be burning an average of up to 420 calories an hour when you do salsa. There are lots of aerobic moves involved in it which flush out the toxins from your body. Since the moves are designed for bonding, that makes it great for your marital relationship too if you dance with your spouse.

7. Bharatnatyam

Bharatnatyam uses high-energy dance moves to get you in shape quickly. The best part is that it exercises your hand-eye coordination, posture, balance, and other areas.

How It Helps

Bharatnatyam helps to fine-tune your senses and take control of your body. If your goal has always been to move the way you want, you’ll find this classical dance form do justice over time.

8. Kathak

Kathak is another dance form that allows you to reduce weight. The weights worn around the ankles tone and strengthen your joints and hone your sense of movement and control.

How It Helps

This is a dance style that teaches you storytelling through the art of movement. If your objective is to learn how to express yourself better plus lose some weight, you’ll find that this might be perfect for you.

9. Odissi

Odissi doesn’t just target different areas of your body. It tones up your face too since it emphasizes movement and expressions. The facial muscles get exercised and you begin looking as radiant as before.

How It Helps

Odissi moves your whole body and focuses on your posture, balance, and form. You also learn more about your emotions through physical expressions and the facial motions add life to your whole performance. By the end of your sessions, you’ll feel relaxed and energized.

FAQs

Here are a couple of frequently asked questions answered to our readers:

1. Which Indian Dance Forms are Ideal for Weight Loss?

Indian classical dance forms are ideal for weight loss if you’re looking for something strictly traditional or cultural. Our best bets are Kathak, Odissi, and Bharatnatyam.

2. How Long Should a Person Dance to Lose Weight?

There is no specific time limit for how long you should dance to lose weight but the general idea is to try and aim for anywhere between 40 to 60 minutes of physical activity for a thorough workout. And it’s not just about exercising those pounds away, you have to watch your diet too.

Learning how to dance can be one of the most thrilling experiences of your life. Pick one of the above dance forms or try a variety by mixing and matching two to three every week. If you have never danced before and don’t know where to start, begin with Zumba because it’s a lot of fun. At the end of the day, any dance form that gets you moving and sweating will help. Just make sure you dance every day and have fun doing it. And before you know it, you’ll notice those kilos melting away.

Also Read:

How to Lose Weight by Swimming
How Walking Can Help You with Weight Loss
Best Cardio Workouts for Weight Loss