As reported in the January issue of the AARP bulletin by
Katharine Greider and Roberta Yared

Heart patients take note: Waltzing is as beneficial to health as working out on treadmills and stationary bikes. People are more apt to do it because it's fun, says researcher Romualdo
Belardinelli, M.D.of Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, Italy.

In a report at a meeting of the American Heart Association in November, Belardinelli said
the waltzers had better oxygen uptake and lesss muscle fatigue than a group doing more traditional exercises and a control group who didn't exercise.
They also reported a better quality of life.

"Maybe we should try that here," cardiologist Robert Bonow, M.D.,of Northwestern University
Medical School told the Associated Press,
"I'm not sure we can get Americans to waltz, but they certainly can dance."

My comments: I dance around my home anytime the music inspires me!
It helps when I can't go out and walk because of bad weather, and most of all it's fun.

It's very important as we grow older to maintain strength in our legs - our legs need to pump
up our blood to maintain a good circulation and strong legs also help with maintaining agility
and balance.

"Fall Prevention: Don't Let Your House Kick you Out!

Two physical therapists (Gail Davies and Fran Scully) with years of experience working in long-
term care have written two companion books on the subject of preventing falls.

One of the books "Fall Prevention:Don't Let Your House Kick you Out! addresses needed adaptations in
the physical environment, the other one "Fall
Prevention: Stay on Your Own Two Feet," provides
enlightening information about the slippery (!) slope leading to poor balance, loss of muscle mass
that they say begins at age 40!

On your feet people, start dancing! or do something!

Fran

Everybody knows you're communicating in 3 different ways: Verbal communication exchanged through discussion, telephone call, or video conferencing. This happens in your conscious mind.

Body communication (or body language) exchanged non-verbally through your eyes, smile, and posture.

Studies show 80% of first impressions are set up on the first 10 seconds, even before one word is exchanged. This happens in your subconscious mind.

Energy communication is exchanged between body energies. Your mind is not involved in the process at all. Have you ever felt uncomfortable with someone without any noticeable reason?

Your body's shape affects indirectly your energy communication. As more comfortable you're with your body, as more confident you are. Consequently you're more respected, appreciated, recognized, and acknowledged by your friends,colleagues, family, and yes, even your spouse or significant other.

Think about yourself entering a room full of people, with upright tall posture, energetic steps, vibrant eyes, a big confident smile on your face,and wearing a good looking suit on your trim body.

How long will it take you to win friends or even find a great date?

Changing your body rewards you endlessly in every social aspect of your life. Don't wait. Change your body to change your life.

Start Your Anti-Aging Fitness Program Today

Are you getting bored with your traditional workout? Is going to the gym just too bothersome? Well then why don't you get your next great workout at the local dance hall? Dancing is not only fun to do it's great exercise too.

There's nothing that gets your heart pumping like dancing. You don't have to be good, you just have to move around. The simple act of moving your arms and legs around is enough to get you a great cardio workout. Studies have shown that ballroom dancing is almost as effective at working your heart as common workouts such as running. It also doesn't matter much what kind of dancing you're doing, whether it's ballroom, country line dancing, or even belly dancing. You can even just dance around your living room to the radio (also a great way to work out with the kids!)

Dancing works all the different muscle groups. Activities like jogging and swimming feature repetitive movements that work the same muscles over and over. That's why it's easy to tell a runner from a swimmer, just by looking at what muscles on their body are developed. Unless you do the same dance over and over, you're going to be doing various different movements. This allows you to work all your different muscle groups giving you a great total body workout you'll be able to see in a mirror. This is also a great motivation to take classes and try new styles of dance.

Normally, workouts can be a bit boring, and boredom is actually one of the most common reasons for quitting an exercise program. With dance, not only do you get to listen to music that is fun and entertaining, dancing can have the benefit of being a social event. If you have one or more people there with you, you can enjoy the conversation and excitement and you'll probably completely forget you're working out. Try getting a group of friends to go dancing once a week with you.

Dancing makes a great family activity. You can use it as a time to bond with your spouse or your children. Remember, they need to get regular exercise too! If you want to get closer to your spouse, sign up for some lessons you can take together. And while you can't take kids out to a lot of dance clubs, you can get a kids dancing
tape, teach them to dance at home, or just play around to the music on the radio. It's a great way to exercise while stimulating their creativity.

So what are you waiting for? Why not change a workout this week to a fun time dancing?

Fran

Anyone who stops learning is old,
whether at twenty or eighty.
Anyone who keeps learning is young.
The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
Henry Ford