Ballroom dancing offers benefits for boomers

While hitting the gym or going for a run are always a viable option for exercise, many baby boomers may be looking for other methods to help them stay fit as they age. One group of Miami residents is finding an opportunity to do just that through ballroom dancing, The Miami Herald reports.

A local dance center located in the Florida city recently started offering weekly classes designed for middle age and older residents. The class is taught by June Rawls, who started offering instruction after she retired from her job as a teacher. Though the classes provide an excellent way to exercise, it is certainly not the only benefit afforded to participants, Rawls says.

"It's a great cardiopulmonary activity and it's also a good way to socialize," she told the newspaper. "The physical is very important, but so is the mental, and when you come here for an hour, you leave the world behind."

Rawls' students seem to echo her sentiment. Among those who are reaping the benefits is 64-year-old Bill Jackson. Jackson, who had always wanted to learn how to dance, signed up soon after he saw there were classes aimed at his demographic. Not only that, but it seemed like an excellent way for him to maintain the active lifestyle he had enjoyed his whole life.

Del Webb communities have long recognized the benefits of dance as a way to stay fit, and many of the communities offer ballroom dancing clubs and classes, like Sun City Carolina Lakes. In addition to ballroom dancing, homeowners here can take advantage of clubs and classes offering everything from fishing to golf and the performing arts.