Journey To 30 Challenge: Let’s Dance!

Dance shoes aren’t required for today’s activity, but definitely bring your groove.

To celebrate our 30^th anniversary, we’ve put together the Journey to 30 Challenge! It’s four weeks of summer-fun activities to help you stay active, connect with the SilverSneakers community, and have a total blast doing it. This is Activity No. 4. Find the full step-by-step guide here. And download the game board PDF here. 

You don’t need a study to prove that a good song is an instant mood lifter. But there’s plenty of research to back that up — and then some.

Researchers in Ireland, for example, concluded that dancing — especially social dancing — helps older adults “enjoy longer and healthier lives.” In fact, the study’s author noted that social dancing “quite literally helps take away the aches and pains associated with older age.”

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is on board, too. It reports that dancing is a great form of aerobic exercise, providing cardiovascular conditioning that helps:

• Lower blood pressure
• Lower your risk of heart disease
• Aid in weight management

The American Council on Exercise (ACE), meanwhile, calls dance fitness classes a fun way to meet the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity each week. ACE also reports dancing helps:

• Improve balance and coordination
• Reduce stress
• Boost your overall fitness level

Plus, other research shows that dance-based exercise can help older adults preserve the ability to perform normal daily activities on their own, like getting in and out of a car with ease. And one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dancing is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.

Taken together, adding a dance day to the Journey to 30 Challenge was a no-brainer!

Get and stay fit with SilverSneakers! Choose from dozens of different Community classes, visit a participating fitness location, or view the current schedule of SilverSneakers LIVE online classes.

The Journey To 30 Challenge Activity 4: Let’s Dance

Today’s activity is split between SilverSneakers members and non-members.  

Eligible members get access to SilverSneakers LIVE online classes, On-Demand videos, and thousands of fitness locations and classes. Not sure if you have access? Quickly check your eligibility now. 

As always, safety is key. If you have a chronic condition, an injury, or balance issues, talk to your doctor about how you can exercise safely.  

For members: Take a SilverSneakers LIVE Line Dancing Class 

The 30-minute classes include fun line-dancing segments and are appropriate for all fitness levels. Today’s class is at 4:00 p.m. ET — but don’t worry if that time doesn’t work for you, these popular classes are offered throughout the week. View the schedule and RSVP here.

Non-members: Do this 8-Minute Low-Impact Home Dance Workout

Press play to follow along as SilverSneakers Trainer Jenny leads you through a fun home dance routine.