[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are your fitness routines boring you these days? If you’re feeling uninspired by your cycling routine or your treadmill is just gathering dust, consider incorporating some fun dance moves to help you get excited about being active again. A popular set of
dance moves that has recently blown up on TikTok and other social media platforms is the Shuffle Dance, and though it has been around for many years, it is only recently experiencing another spotlight.
But what is it exactly? And why should you try it?
Everything You Need to Know About Shuffle Dancing
You may not know that shuffle dancing originated in underground rave clubs throughout Melbourne, Australia in the 80s and early 90s, where techno music was having a tremendous cultural impact at the time. DJ’s and audio engineers were creating Electronic Dance Music (EDM) such as House, Trance or DubStep using electronic interfaces and technology, and the high energy moves of the Shuffle Dance were a perfect fit for EDM’s fast, heart pounding rhythms and beats.
Many years later shuffle dance challenges, instruction videos and social media platforms like TikTok introduced a whole new generation of Gen Z and post millennials to shuffle dancing. Though its origins began in underground dance clubs, you can now easily discover how to do the moves online. From basic choreography to more advanced dance challenges, you’ll be able to find a wide range of difficulty and various techniques, depending on how quickly you learn the rudimentary steps and how far you want to take your skillset. Shuffle Dance is known within its fan base to be an energetic, colorful, positive expression of physical movement that is not only fun but is also great for both body and mind.
Basic moves
Shuffle Dance consists of a few basic steps, which can then be supplemented by whatever other variations the dancer would like to include.
- The “T Step”: This quick sideways motion is created with the ball and the heel of one foot, ending with a twist at the ankle. It includes sliding, arm pumps, kicks and spins.
- The Running Man: This more well-known move imitates a person running on the spot. It is a two-step dance where the front foot is brought backward in two hops. The back foot is also brought forward using a walking motion.
- The Charleston: Its origins are much older than shuffle dancing as it was made popular with Ragtime music from the 1920’s Prohibition Era. But it’s gotten a major reboot – dropping the jazz hands and making the upward kicks more robotic and less flashy.
Personalize your shuffle dance by adding spins, slides and upper body movements to make this trend your own in sync with the music.
Health boosts to shuffling
- May help reduce depression
Recent
randomized trials show that physical movement – dance in particular – appears to be a promising treatment for
depression. In fact,
similar studies concur over the mood lifting effects of dance therapy. Shuffle Dance is known in the TikTok world for being inclusive, allowing freedom and valuing true expression. These factors mixed with the blood pumping movements may be the perfect combo to help combat negative thoughts and patterns. Dance to a brighter you!
- Challenges yet calms the mind
The movements themselves, regardless of what type – from tap to tango, jazz to jitterbug – can provide relief from physical tension,
anxiety and aggression. “Shake it off!” as Taylor Swift so heartily recommends. Dancing out your frustrations allows you to experience an emotional release which can feel quite calming afterwards. Often because the movements challenge the dancer to do two different things with their limbs,
research reveals that another perk to dancing is that cognitive and kinesthetic confusion often decline as body awareness grows.
- Increases physical activity
Dance is a form of
physical activity which studies show is positively associated with increased overall cardiovascular fitness, improved physiological and psychological health, and more musculoskeletal strength. Physical activity has also been correlated with the prevention and treatment of diseases such as
stroke,
diabetes, high
blood pressure and certain cancers. Interested in maintaining a healthier body weight, having a higher quality of life or an overall better sense of well-being? Get physical!
- Increases Social Connectedness
The revival of Shuffle Dance was in part because of social media platforms, so the community is proud to provide opportunities online to interpret and express their beloved artform.
Research confirms that dancing, even over the internet, has been associated with improvements in self-esteem while also reducing depressive thoughts. Additionally, it’s also associated with improvements in social and community connectedness and was instrumental during the pandemic when isolation measures were in full effect.
- Longer Life
Want to live longer? Keep moving!
Scientists reveal that decline in physical activity is one of the major risk factors associated with good health and longevity. Individuals not engaging in activities like dancing, cycling,
swimming, sports or
yoga are 20 to 30% more prone to dying earlier than those who participate in regular physical activity. Not only will you live longer but as illustrated above, you’ll also have a higher quality of life where you can continue to enjoy activities you loved doing when you were younger.
Prevent injury
Warm up: Before attempting any Shuffle Dance moves, remember to warm up first so that your muscles and joints are not stiff and more prone to being pulled or injured. Warming up is important as it increases blood circulation, body temperature and nutrient delivery to muscles, prepping your body for the exertion to come. Try jogging in place or doing some jumping jacks.
Use supportive shoes: Shuffle dancing requires a lot of moving, spinning and sliding and you could be dancing in all sorts of places – from outdoor parks to shopping malls, from your living room to your friend’s backyard patio! So be sure to choose a comfortable, supportive shoe that has some traction as well as the ability to spin. If you overstress your ankle in shoes that have too much grip or not enough support, you can sprain and possibly tear ligaments in your ankle or knee, which are serious injuries that take a long time to heal.
Stay hydrated: With some practice, shuffle dancing might feel fun, effortless or super engaging, and remembering to drink enough water can become all too easily forgotten. Just because dancing is upbeat or easy doesn’t mean it’s still not a workout. Don’t hesitate to take regular water breaks, especially if you are dancing in warm, bright or humid environments.
Now that you understand the perks of more movement, have you tried shuffling yet? Join the craze and not only will your body thank you, but so will your mind and your social life![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="177765" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1725039370189{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/ultima-replenisher-hydration-electrolyte-mocktini-variety-pack"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="177766" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1725039383605{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/verb-energy-caffeinated-energy-bar-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="177767" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1725039398083{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/vitahustle-one-superfood-protein-greens-powder-20g-plant-protein"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
