Healthy Living Through Relaxation

From webmd:

Whether you enjoy a slow waltz around the living room, or are training for a competition, dance is a great way to stay active. In fact, ballroom dancing has been chosen as a demonstration sport for the 2008 Olympic Games.

When the Rumba Rhythm Starts to Sway
The benefits of dance are many: stress reduction, better posture and body alignment, increased confidence, improved agility, greater flexibility and stamina. Because dance is a low-impact sport and can be practiced at different intensities, it's a great workout for any age or fitness level. And dance is less likely to result in injury than activities that produce the same motion over and over, like aerobics or running.

Best of all, dancing is a great way to spend time getting closer—literally—to your partner. Because it relies on non-verbal communication and a sense of touch, it's a great way to bond. (The name of the most romantic of dances, the tango, reputedly derives from the Latin "tangere"—to touch.)

Add Some Style to Your Day
There are two main styles of ballroom dance—American Social and International. American Social, taught in many North American dance studios, is generally easier to learn and dance with different partners. Competitive dancers practice International style. Both offer lots of variety, from the slow and steady waltz to the pulse-quickening fox trot.

Dance the Night Away
Casual, loose-fitting clothing is acceptable at classes; avoid jeans, shorts and uncomfortable shoes.

Investing in shoes made for ballroom dancing will make it easier—they're specially designed to give you proper support with out adding weight, and the soles allow you to glide across the floor without missing a beat.

Sign up for a class to learn the basic moves and build confidence. Practice at home until you feel comfortable—then go and hit the dance floor.

The Stay at Home Spa
By enjoying a relaxing session in the comfort of your own home, you'll save on spa prices and avoid the inconvenience of traveling there and back, not to mention the crowds and scheduling problems. Whatever you feel is your favorite way to unwind, be sure to take the phone off the hook and put up a Do Not Disturb sign, so the rest of the family gives you some peace.
A relaxing bath. A good bath soothes all your senses: smell (with bath salts or essential oils); sight (candles or dimmed light); sound (your favorite mellow CD); touch (warm water, thick towels); and taste (a soothing beverage). To draw the perfect bath, fill the tub about 1/3 full with comfortably warm water, slip in, then fill the remainder with hot water until it reaches the desired temperature.

The yoga studio. Whether you can devote the corner of a room, or have a room of your own, keeping all your yoga gear in one convenient spot for quick access makes for a stress-free workout prep. The gear to get: sticky mat, DVD or video, comfy clothes.

Fast facial. In just 15 minutes, you can relax and give yourself a glow. The secret of making your at-home facial feel more relaxing: cover your face with a hot, damp towel and place a rolled-up hot towel behind your neck. Relax for a few minutes before applying your favorite peel-off face mask.

Pedicure-all. A pedicure is a double-duty spa treatment that's both cosmetic and relaxing. Start by soaking feet in warm water with bath salts. Trim nails and push back cuticles. Exfoliate and rev up circulation with a pumice stone, then massage a peppermint-based lotion into feet, ankles and shins. Finish with your favorite clear or colored nail polish. TIP: Look for a pedicure lotion with a mild exfoliant.

How To Lower Your Blood Pressure With Ballroom Dancing

From ehow.com:

by Xsagutk GdFaith

Introduction

Throughout years in history, physicians have always encountered basic problems like high blood pressure, or hypertension, haunting their patients. As these doctors acknowledged the value of fitness through consistent exercise, they would recommend fun activities, such as jogging, walking and bicycling. Many people, however, dreaded those repetitive workouts and eventually ceased their routines. Their physicians then suggested ballroom dancing, which was a form of cardiovascular exercise that required socializing and vigorous, memorized movements accompanied by good music. In fact, little did their patients know that this type of workout can burn up to 400 calories when done for at least 30 minutes daily. The following steps are illustrated below to teach people an easy and an entertaining way to lower their respective blood pressure.

Steps

Step One
Establish a focused, yet positive, attitude. As the 2007 ScienceDaily stated, hypertension, or high blood pressure, "is associated with an increased risk for mild cognitive impairment, a condition that involves difficulties with thinking and learning" ("Science," 2007). Ballroom dancing, no matter what type, requires memorization, which then triggers significant neural growth and development.

Step Two
Communicate and enjoy waltzing with a partner and other fellow colleagues in the studio. Ballroom dancing is social dancing--not one but two people are necessary to perform a decent promenade. Indeed, "the movement to music is always a superior form of relaxation" (Luhrs, 2007).

Step Three
Dismiss the stresses of the day. Constantly worrying about that popular girl in high school or sweating bullets on that important project for a huge business client will get people nowhere but into anxiety, obesity, and lack of exercise--all root causes of high blood pressure. By participating in ballroom dancing, people can expect to temporarily and healthfully forget their concerns and avoid conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and an "increased peripheral arteriorial stiffness" ("AtCor", 2006).

Tips & Warnings
It is fine to worry about certain things in life, but never overdo it.
Imagine ballroom dancing as a magical experience.
Be sure to obtain your physician's approval before starting workout.
Be careful about ballroom dancing--you might just love it.