An Indian Festival without traditional food is like a Morning without sun. Since the festive season is back in India there are the greater chances of binging on sweets and savouries, which may result in gaining a few extra kilos! But, not to worry as Navratri is just around the corner and is one of the fun ways of keeping one fit, active, fresh and perhaps shed a few kilos.
Navaratri is one of the glitzy and noisiest festivals and commits huge participation of people every year across the nation. People swirl to the tunes of Garba and Dandiya in colourful attires; they strike wooden sticks to the rhythmic beats of Dandiya music in clockwise and anticlockwise movements. Though the devotional aspect of the dance is well documented, not many are aware that Dandiya is not only fun but also is an ideal way to keep in shape and banish stress.
According to fitness experts, it is an excellent form of exercise that is emotionally, mentally and physically satisfying. Apart from that, it burns as many calories as jogging or swimming. The dance forms in the Garba and Dandiya includes exercises like Shuffles, Squats, Jumping Jacks, Shoulder press and waist rotation
Some of the health benefits of Garba and Dandiya workouts include:
- Flat Belly: Most of the people out there are looking for any kind of exercise to maintain their body mass index. Navratri is one of the best occasions to shed extra kilos. Garba and Dandiya workouts are a great way to lose fat especially around the belly. The continuous dance movements help performers lose an estimated 300 to 500 calories an hour depending on the intensity of the dance.
- Improved Blood Circulation: Dandiya performance utilizes the muscles from head to toe which increases the blood circulation throughout the body and in turn nourishes the muscles. This provides immense health benefits similar to that of aerobic exercises. Moreover, Dandiya is recommended as a good cardio exercise as it requires a very fast pace which increases heart rate. The dance steps involved in Dandiya stimulate the central nervous system as it requires both hand and foot movements. Moreover, this dance form is very effective for reducing bad cholesterol LDL and blood sugar and increasing the good cholesterol HDL.
- Relaxant: Dandiya acts as a greatest stress buster and helps in relaxation of mind. It releases endorphins or brain chemicals, which melts away tension and relaxes the mind, body and soul. This in turn makes people happy and is one of the major physiological benefits to overall well-being. In short, Dandiya Raas lifts one’s spirits and reduces stress.
- Other benefits: Dandiya not just improves cardiovascular strength and physical agility, but it also helps improve gait and posture and develops a grace and elegance. It makes you more coordinated and teaches you to move more gracefully. Also, Long hours at work, inadequate rest and a high level of stress take a toll on the quality of life. Garba and Dandiya are a social activity which enables the performer to develop co-ordination, concentration and team spirit as performers have to strike their sticks in a coordinated manner to the beat of the music. So to do this correctly and in rhythm, they have to be completely focused.
In conclusion, Dandiya is a novel alternative to aerobics and cardiovascular exercise. So what are you waiting for? Buy yourself the perfect Dandiya sticks and dance away towards better health and embrace yourself to the tunes of Garba music this Navratri!!
