Lose Weight and Be Happy Dancing Samba

You'll probably have heard the term "latin dance" and unless you've been hiding in a broom cupboard for the last decade you'll know of the various incarnations of "Strictly Come Dancing". This program, apart from being really great entertainment, has helped raise the popularity of ballroom dancing as a fun thing to do but equally drawn attention to its physical demands and qualities as an aerobic sport. Latin dance is just one of many categories of dance included in the ballroom set. In it you'll find the Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, Mambo, Danza, Merengue, Tumba, Bachata, Bomba, Plena, Paso Doble and Bolero. A pretty daunting list isn't it? Don't worry - you don't need to know anything about these dances and the eagle eyed amongst you will notice the omission of two very popular dances on the list - Zumba and Tango. They fall into a grey area for a couple of reasons. Well, Zumba is "dance-inspired" and is actually a fitness program in its own right! Tango, on the other hand, is a topic for debate at every coffee table at every tea dance at every dance hall in every city throughout the world. Do you dance Argentine Tango...? Do you dance Tango Nuevo...? But that's for discussion somewhere else. What's important here is the mood of the dance. If you choose a sultry and slow dance like Tango then you'll have a beautiful experience - I've done it in Buenos Aires - and if you're not used to the posture then you'll have an achy back for a bit and notice muscles you never knew you had. But you won't burn too many calories and you'll need someone to dance with. To burn calories we need to get moving and party! And for that you don't need a dance partner but you need a lively and upbeat dance like Samba, which is used in Theresa Stevens's program for fitness and fun.

Samba is a Brazilian dance originating from Rio de Janeiro. Just like Tango and so many of the steamy dances from Latin America, it gets its roots from the African slave trade. With Samba in particular you can see the incorporation of some of the dance moves associated with African religions and tribal rites. The music is infectious and just makes you want to get up and move your body around. It doesn't matter whether you're in company or on your own, it has the same effect. There is a partnered version of the dance and that will help you get active as it's very lively and rhythmic. The solo version of the dance gives you much greater freedom of expression. Given that most of us are used to dancing alone it's a pretty accessible dance to start learning about the dance steps. Because it's so active, you'll find your pulse racing and your heart beating hard. It doesn't matter what you wear and you don't need any special shoes - just get up and enjoy the music. Once you've learnt a few steps and gained the confidence to do it in public you'll be the envy of party-goers!

When it comes to dancing there are so many options. If you're not sure where to start then it's probably a good idea to join a club. Apart from the fact that there'll be beginners courses you'll really get a chance to meet people, develop a great social life and get stuck in. Joining a club isn't everybody's cup of tea. Perhaps you'd prefer to contact a teacher directly and organize a private one to one session for tuition. You may prefer to get a video and learn to dance in the comfort of your own home. Whichever route you choose you'll eventually find yourself at the juncture where you'll be just wanting to show off your new skills. Dancing does that to you. You'll find yourself brimming with extra energy that you just have to burn off somehow. For you, hearing Samba music will be the trigger for you to jump up and start moving to the music. What you'll also find is that there are plenty of opportunities to combine your new hobby with trips abroad for holidays and dance camps. Whatever kind of dance you do, there'll always be a group of enthusiasts somewhere who'll welcome you into their club. Who knows, one day you may even end up visiting Brazil?

If you really can't decide whether it's Salsa or Samba, Cuba or Brazil, then just dance anything in the privacy of your own home. But get some inspiration from videos or music that will help you move. If you really want to learn at home then get yourself on a video program. it doesn't take much space and some, such as Theresa Stevens's "Lose Weight by Dancing" will give you a taste in the form of a free newsletter, a free 7-Day e-course about getting happy through dance and a whole host of videos and blogs to look at on her site. At the end of the day it's all about having fun and feeling good. We need to be aware of the right things to eat and drink and create the right habits to make us live more healthily. If we make the decision to get active then being happy becomes a choice. If you start dancing it will probably become the start of a whole new world for you! Enjoy it.