Three Reasons You Need Resistance Training

Resistance training should be a staple in anyone's fitness regimen. There are different workouts based on this concept, but it's essential to know why resistance training is valuable. Resistance training can makeover your metabolism, multiply lean muscle, and improve joint stability. When used correctly, it can prevent sports' related injuries. Fortunately, we're here to help you learn why resistance training is so beneficial to your health.

Metabolism Makeover

Did you know that the lean muscle mass in your body burns calories at rest? If you're performing resistance-based exercises several times a week, chances are your maintaining or increasing lean muscle mass. That means even when you're not doing those exercises, you're burning calories, and your body will easily store and use nutrients as energy.  For example, glycogen, a product of sugar, is made and stored in your muscles.  While you shouldn't just eat junk food on a daily basis, resistance training can help your body more efficiently use what you do eat.

Muscle Multiplier

 Lean muscle mass isn't necessarily looking like the Hulk. It also provides a sculpted look that many people want. If you wish to look like Arnold or a ballerina, you'll need lean muscle mass to accomplish this goal. Cardiovascular training can be done in a way that mostly burns fat, but may not necessarily provide a lean look if little muscle mass involved. Be sure to include exercises with a resistance focus, whether you take barre classes or hit the weight room. 

Joint Stabilization

Whether you consider yourself an athlete or not, the ability to prevent injury and maintain healthy joints is vital for everyday activity. Joints like your elbows and knees contain synovial fluid. This fluid should move around in the joint cavity to lubricate and provide shock absorption for the joints. Performing controlled resistance exercises is a great way to circulate synovial fluid. As a result, your joints will maintain a healthy range of motion. It also increases stabilization, providing a support network to keep your joints from going in directions in which they probably shouldn't go. That is important when it's time to break out your best dance moves. 

Resistance training has the potential to makeover your metabolism, multiply your lean muscle mass and improve your joint stability. Add that to your dance fitness routine, and you've got a winning pair when you're ready to hit the dance floor! 

If you're looking to add resistance training into your routine, check us out at Valeo Dance Fitness. At Valeo, we combine our love for healthy living with dancing to create invigorating workouts. Our workouts focus on healthy weight loss and stress relief that allows you to burn up to 1000 calories in one hour, tone your entire body, strengthen your core, and define waistline while having fun! To learn more about our group dance fitness, resistance training, and other classes, visit us online here!

Resistance Training: Why It Works

Resistance training has been around for over a century and continues to be a great way to build muscle, be healthy, and get fit. People everywhere put in the hard work needed to see results, but many do not know why it is working or how! 

A Quick Science Lesson 

When your body undergoes any form of resistance training, it sees it as a threat to its homeostasis, or balance. The human body is amazingly adept at staying as balanced as possible and will do what it must to keep up. For example, when someone lifts a weight, there are micro-tears throughout the body. The body then repairs the area, but instead of putting back what was there, it strengthens it as well. It is the same with dancing. The muscles of the legs strengthen and get rebuilt stronger, so the next session is potentially not as stressful. Dancing also will improve cardiovascular health as it strengthens the heart and lungs. Strengthening of the heart is an excellent benefit of exercise as it improves circulation and overall health. 

Another lesser-known benefit of resistance training is the release of "feel good" hormones. When someone is working out hard, the body only knows it as a threat. In turn, it releases hormones like dopamine and adrenaline to strengthen you. This is why exercise can be so addicting and make someone experiencing a bad day have a positive attitude flip. This is also the reason why runners get what is known as "the runners high." While addictive hormones may sound bad, they pose no threat, and there is no harm from their release during exercise. 

Signature Classes At Valeo

Resistance training is a signature part of our ValeoFit 1000 class. Dancing is a fantastic and fun way to get into shape and is easily learnable from one of our classes. You can learn about the studio and what we offer here, and if you have any more questions, feel free to contact us. 

The Foundation of Ballroom Dancing

The key to dancing well with a partner and enjoying it is the right balance of leading and following.  Although choreographed routines are used in competition and performance, ballroom dancing is, at its core, social dancing, which means that it relies on communication between the dancers.  One leads, determining the direction they go and how far they move, and the other follows, keeping up with the changes without overstepping.  It can be challenging, but with practice, you can make it look just as effortless as the professionals! 

Leading 

In ballroom dancing, the man generally leads.  He almost always steps forward first, usually on his right foot.  The man leads his partner through a variety of small movements and weight changes.  For example, a slight backward pull of his shoulder indicates that she should step toward him, while a press against her raised hand tells her to step back.  It's crucial to maintain a proper dance frame because, without it, those communications can get lost. 

The lead has a lot of responsibility in the dance.  It's his job to take his follower through every step, which means he has to make decisions on the fly if there's no choreography.  This can be daunting, especially for beginners, but leading is just as important as knowing the steps.   

Following 

It's generally the woman's role to follow in a dance.  That sounds easy, but it requires just as much skill as leading.  She's just as responsible for maintaining the dance frame, and she must pay attention to all those small changes in her partner's hold.  If she gets too close or too far away from him, their connection will be lost, and they'll lose the ability to dance together smoothly.  

For many women, following is the hardest part of ballroom dancing.  The follower shouldn't move at all until she gets a signal from her lead, regardless if he's off the beat or out of time.  Every move she makes should be dictated by the lead, which can be difficult.  Following requires trusting your partner to communicate well and make you look good.  

Valeo Dance Fitness Studio offers private ballroom dance lessons with Asiya Khasnutdinova, voted Best Ballroom Dance Instructor in Atlanta.  From salsa to swing, tango to foxtrot, we have the style for you!  To start learning the art of lead and follow, contact us today!

Sharing Some Good News!

COVID-19 has caused stress and chaos for those around the globe. In recent weeks the US has seen a sharp change in daily activities such as working, daily activities, and especially working out. This has been a huge adjustment for everyone. At Valeo, we realize how stressful this is so rather than sharing bad news, we want to focus on the positive. Here are a few good news updates to keep our spirits lifted during this crisis.

Good News

Teddy Bear Hunt

All over the United States, people reported stuffed animal sightings in peoples' windows. Pictures are surfacing on social media platforms sharing the new challenge called the Teddy Bear Hunt. The goal is for children to walk around, safely, and count how many bears they can find. This idea is based on the book "We're Going On A Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen. The idea is to provide children a safe scavenger hunt that practices social distancing and is still entertaining. The amount of bears, or other stuffed animals, popping up around neighborhoods is astonishing. What a great way to bring smiles to children's faces!

Giving Thanks

In many cities like New York, Orlando, and Atlanta people are sharing videos of appreciation and love. People begin clapping for medical workers when the hospital shifts change. Medical workers are seen walking to and from the hospital while being showered in gratitude. You can check out the video of Atlanta residents cheering on their fellow health care staff here. How beautiful it is to see people supporting one another, even during difficult times. 

Family Visits

The CDC recommends people stay six feet away from one another and avoid contact with those outside your circle, older relatives, and those with compromised immune systems. This rule was put into place to help flatten the curve and reduce the number of interactions we have with one another. Due to this, we have seen people all over the globe get creative. For example, Kira Neely, 6,  is used to seeing her 80-year old grandfather Marvin Neely every day since they are next-door neighbors. Since they are practicing social distancing they had to come up with a new way to see one another. One way that Kira wants to spend time with her grandpa is by having a dance-off. In the video here you can see the two dancing with one another at the end of their driveways. What a sweet way to spend time together, while practicing social distancing!

There is so much going on in the world, but at the same time, so much positivity. We realize that life has changed for everyone drastically. At Valeo, we want you to know we are here for you. If you are looking for a way to keep busy while stuck inside, our Youtube channel has free dance workouts! This is a great way to keep your spirits up until we can all meet again in person! Stay healthy and stay safe!

Representing Valeo Dance Fitness at Rimini Wellness Italy!

WOW WOW WOW! We are so incredibly honored and excited to have been invited to Rimini Wellness in Italy this year, the world's biggest congress devoted to dance, fitness, well-being, sport, business, physical culture and healthy eating! What an amazing experience to represent Valeo Dance Fitness at an event that brings all the biggest companies in the wellness universe together under the same roof! Interviews, sharing knowledge, learning innovative techniques, new ideas, meeting best professionals in the dance fitness arena! We can't wait to share this with you, our wonderful Valeo Dance Fitness family!

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