WATCH ABOVE: The benefits of Irish dancing are vast, according to Dr. Kim Gladden of the Cleveland Clinic.
TORONTO — If you want to channel the spirit of Irish, without the green beers (which aren’t really an Irish tradition), a little Riverdance action might be just what you need.
Dancing — and according to the Cleveland Clinic‘s Dr. Kim Gladden, Irish dancing in particular — is known to provide plenty of physical benefits. For one, its fast footwork helps you build better balance while strengthening your legs and core muscles.
WATCH: St. Paddy’s day performance by dancers from the Rising Tide Irish Dance Academy.
“It’s so energetic.”
“You can get a cardiovascular workout. You get your heart rate up. You’re moving large muscle groups rhythmically, so it fits the criteria for an aerobic workout if you’re doing it in a sustained fashion,” Gladden said.
Get weekly health news
READ MORE: Hitting the dance floor a great calorie burn
Working on your “Lord of the Dance” moves could also give your brain a work-out. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found dancing may decrease your risk of developing dementia — something Gladden agrees with.
“Having to think about rhythm, and time your movements; and learn the choreography because, as you’re learning choreography, you really have to think and ingrain movement. And it fires patterns in the brain that I think are very beneficial.”
And if you need the green beers to flow before you bust out your fancy footwork, that’s okay too.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.