Dance workouts to do at home
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
January 26, 2009 1:22pm CST
Another discussion got me to thinking and I didn't want to interrupt the flow of that conversation so I'll ask this here :)
I currently use a treadmill for exercise (especially in the winter when I don't care to be outside in the cold). I would really like to use dance as another fitness activity. I'm not particularly interested in taking actual dance classes but I'd very much like some recommendations of good dance-based workout dvds that I could use at home. I remember "back in the day," I'd do some sweatin' to the oldies with Richard Simmons ... LOL! ... but I'd like something more current and at a beginner to intermediate level.
Does anyone have any dance workouts that they actually ENJOY or find reasonably fun to do? This would be a bonus 
1 person likes this
4 responses
@snowcat46 (2322)
• United States
26 Jan 09
I don't like dancing to a routine. I just pop in whatever music I like, then do whatever I want to as dancing. It burns calories no matter what. If you want to work on a specific part, just make sure when you're dancing to come up with a move that works on that area. Nothing to buy, nothing to be stuck in front of the tv for.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
28 Jan 09
Stuck in front of the tv has been in a problem in the past, that's for sure. For some reason, some of the dance workouts take an AWFUL lot of room to accomplish and not everyone has that much open space in their home. I don't want to rearrange the furniture all the time, if I can avoid it! Even if I don't find a good dvd, I'll keep on shakin' my groove thing! 
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
That's very true! Good point! I just want to dance... I don't want to buy elastics and balls and weights and who knows what else. If I can use my body for resistance, great. Mainly, I think the dancing would be great for cardio. I already have a treadmill and an exercise bike in my basement... don't want a full home gym LOL!
@snowcat46 (2322)
• United States
28 Jan 09
There ya go! I can't believe how many things most of them want you to buy too. That's not right. It's not like the majority of us own an entire dance floor. They need to consider the regular people's habitat.
1 person likes this
@thunderstar17 (323)
• United States
2 Feb 09
I am IN LOVE w/Zumba. It is a latin dance based work out. For beginners there is a dvd/vhs depeding on which you have and prefer...to teach youa ll the movesand such. You can also modify the movements if you need to until you are up to the level you need to be at...i would classify is more as intermediate once you learn all the moves. I love it more than I can begin to express!
It really helps tone everything and get you in shape better than anything else I have tried. I used to do tae bo all the time until I injured my knee doing a kick...zumba is soo different than tae bo because you are not going to get seriously injuried when you do something incorrectly.
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@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
3 Feb 09
Thank you, thunderstar! I appreciate your recommendation. Latin dance is gorgeous and Zumba sounds like something I will absolutely look into. I, too, considered tae bo and it's not really what I was looking for... I do like to include some of the punch or kick style moves into other exercise that I do but I'm really more directed to dance. Thanks again! I'm excited to learn more about this :D
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
26 Jan 09
I don't have a routine, I just turn on the music and...MOVE TO THE GROOVE!!
lol I walk all day at work and since my days are usually at least 12 hours I don't have time or energy for dancing, but I do love to when I can.
I hope you find just what you are looking for though 
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
28 Jan 09
I LOVE to dance... and do my share of "movin' to the groove" too LOL!! I think anything that keeps you active is a positive thing and you're right that I don't have to have a routine. I dance alone, with my kids, while cooking dinner... doesn't matter to me, as long as I hear music I like! Heck I've danced with my kids in Walmart hee hee I think sometimes I just need structure in order to really stick to my exercise. I'm good for awhile and then, as human nature would have it, I slack off. So, maybe just maybe, if I find a more fun dance dvd, I'll get into it for the long haul. Will cross my fingers! 
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
14 Apr 09
Eversince I learned how to dance, when I was a toddler i always wanted to dance. What you are saying is you have a video cd that you used to be follow for your work-outs, is that what you mean? Me, i don't have that but one form of exercise for me is dancing. It is like the combination of expressing your feelings , sweating, cheap exercise and enjoying the music.
