Health & Wellbeing News

BOOST BRAIN HEALTH WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Physical activity is just as good for your brain as it is for the rest of your body.

Being active improves brain function and prevents cognitive decline. It has also been shown to make you happier and feel more pleasure – so your brain will love you for it!

Here’s 4 ways that physical activity is good for your brain health.

FEED YOUR BRAIN

Getting a moderate amount of aerobic physical activity in your day improves blood flow to the brain, which is how your brain is supplied with nutrients and oxygen.

INCREASE ATTENTION AND LEARNING

Your brain is like a super-computer, and physical activity helps the computer function better. Research has shown that students who participated in short exercise breaks during a lecture increased their ability to focus, improved their comprehension and ability to remember what they had learned.   So doing a bit of moderate exercise may give you that little lift you need if you are having trouble concentrating.  Just 5 minutes may be enough to improve your attention.

PREVENT COGNITIVE DECLINE

There is growing evidence that exercise may help reduce cognitive decline as we get older and protect us from dementia.

The brain, like the rest of our body, changes as we get older. The hippocampus— that’s the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning—shrinks as we get older.  This may lead to memory problems and a higher risk of developing dementia. The good news is studies are showing that aerobic exercise (the kind that gets you breathing heavily) can boost the size of your hippocampus.

GET A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP

Exercise has been shown to improve sleep, and sleep is crucial for brain function. We usually think about how sleep rests our body, but it also allows our brains to complete important functions, like maintaining the neurons in our brain, and removing waste byproducts that build up in our brains.  Getting regular moderate physical activity can help to improve sleep, and a good night’s sleep will also give you more energy to be active again the next day!

THE ENDLESS BENEFITS OF DANCING

It’s hard not to feel joy while dancing. Whether that’s because you love the music, you’re dancing with a partner or laughing yourself silly trying to get the hang of choreography.

The beauty of dance is that no part of the body is left behind. It asks for people to be on their feet, coordinate their limbs and really turn the brain on. One of the best things about it? You usually don’t realise how physical it is while doing it.

If you’ve never given dancing a proper shot or it’s been a while and you’d like to pick it back up, here’s why you should.

DANCING CAN HELP ALL-ROUND PHYSICALITY

Research suggests dancing can be as beneficial as swimming, cycling or running on a treadmill.1 There are countless physical benefits, including increased muscle strength and tone, better flexibility and endurance, improved posture, coordination, aerobic ability, balance and spatial awareness. If it’s done at a high intensity, dancing helps with cardiovascular conditioning and strengthens key weight-bearing bones, including the hips. All of these things help us holistically and assist in doing other forms of exercise, too.

IT CAN IMPROVE MENTAL WELLBEING

Why do people keep dancing? One study says it’s sustainable because it’s fun. But its mental health benefits go far beyond that. Dance increases our endorphin levels which can work wonders in improving our mood. It gives us the space to ease stress and tension. It puts us in touch with both body and mind, which can assist with self-esteem, self-belief and motivation. Dance classes also provide the chance to socialise and form new connections.

THE BRAIN LOVES TO DANCE

Dance stimulates the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain involved in making decisions, predictions and creating new memories. It is an especially beneficial hobby as we age. A 21-year-long study found that out of 17 different leisure activities, social dancing had the highest association with a lower risk of dementia. It outdid activities such as reading, swimming, doing crossword puzzles and playing instruments. It’s believed this is because of the level of focus required, combined with social interaction.

THERE’S NO AGE LIMIT

Given how many different dance styles are out there, you can continue dancing through all stages of life. As you get older, you might opt for a waltz over a quickstep or a slower form of hip hop instead of breakdancing. The bottom line is there are always options to continue dancing. It’s all about re-evaluating what your body can manage and finding dance forms to suit your needs.

Get Active Victoria has dance tutorials for hip hop, jazz, Bollywood and many more dance styles. Check them out and find something you can enjoy.