Education
STAY FIT with VICKY : Dance as an exercise
STAY FIT with VICKY :DANCE AS AN EXERCISE (part 2)
Are you the type that hates to go to the gym? Does the mere thought of having to run on a treadmill make you shudder with distaste? Are you sick of the same boring exercise routines? Then you should consider taking up DANCE.
Dance has physical and mental health benefits. Dancing is good exercise and a fun way to keep fit. Ballet, belly dancing, salsa, ballroom dancing, hip-hop, square-dancing and tap dancing are different dancing styles.
It’s a sport that both men and women can enjoy and benefit from.
There are many forms of dance, from ballroom to barn dancing and disco to Morris dancing. Dance has always been a part of human culture, rituals and celebrations. Dance is a great form of exercise as it provides you both aerobic and anaerobic movements. Our bodies need a combination of both types of exercise in order to be in their healthiest.
Today, I want to let you know that most dancing is about recreation and self-expression, although it can also be done as a competitive activity. Dancing is an enjoyable way to be more physically active and stay fit.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF DANCING
In dance, Aerobic exercise can be achieved by jumping, swaying, twirling etc. While Anaerobic exercise include holding squat positions, lifting someone else or your own body and balancing.
Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of physical and mental benefits including:
1. Improved condition of your heart and lungs
2. Increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness
3.Increased aerobic fitness
4. Improved muscle tone and strength
5. Weight management
6. Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
7. Better coordination, agility and flexibility
8. Improved balance and spatial awareness
9. Increased physical confidence
10. Improved mental functioning
11. Improved general and psychological well being
12. Greater self-confidence and self-esteem
13. Better social skills.
HOW TO START WITH DANCING?
You can dance in a group, with a partner, or on your own. There are lots of different places where you can enjoy dancing. For example, at dance schools, social venues, community halls and in your own home. Dancing has become such a popular way to be active and keep fit, that most fitness clubs now offer dance classes in their group exercise programs.
Dancing can be done both competitively and socially. It can be a great recreational and sporting choice, because anyone of any age can take part. It doesn’t matter whether it is cold or raining, as dancing is usually done indoors.
Dancing stretches your body in new ways that you’ve never tried before. Also dance helps your muscle to be more flexible.
The gear you need for dancing will depend on the style of dancing you choose. For example, tap dancing will involve buying tap shoes, whereas ballet will need ballet slippers and ballet clothing. To get started, simply choose a style you enjoy Or enroll for dance class with an instructor.
TYPES OF DANCE
There are many styles of dance to choose from, each with its own attractions. Popular styles of dancing include:
• BALLET – mostly performed to classical music, this dance style focuses on strength, technique and flexibility.
• BALLROOM DANCING – this involves a number of partner-dancing styles such as the waltz, swing, foxtrot, rumba and tango.
• BELLY DANCING – originating in the Middle East, this dance style is a fun way to exercise.
• HIP-HOP – it’s performed mostly to hip-hop music. This urban dance style can involve breaking, popping, locking and freestyling.
• JAZZ – A high-energy dance style involving kicks, leaps and turns to the beat of the music.
• POLE DANCING – this has become increasingly popular as a form of exercise. It involves sensual dancing with a vertical pole, and requires muscle endurance, coordination, and upper- and lower-body strength.
• SALSA – salsa is usually a partner dance and emphasizes rhythms and sensuality. It involves a mixture of Caribbean, Latin American and African influences.
• SQUARE-DANCING – A type of folk dancing where four couples dance in a square pattern, moving around each other and changing partners.
• TAP DANCING – focuses on timing and beats. The name originates from the tapping sounds made when the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch the ground.
One thing that dancing can provide that jogging and regular gym exercise can’t is CREATIVE OUTLET. You are free to invent new forms, choose your own music and even put makeup and costume to your dance routines.
Here are important questions you must ask yourself before choosing a dance style:
* Do I want to dance to improve my fitness?
* Am I trying to improve my flexibility and coordination?
* Do I prefer fast dancing or slow dancing?
* Do I want to dance with a partner, or on my own?
* Do I want to join a group, or have private lessons?
* Will I enjoy competitions, or do I want to dance just for fun?
Healthy TIPS for dancing:
If you are thinking of taking up dancing, suggestions include:
– See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or are unfit.
– Wear layers of clothing that you can take off as your body warms up.
– Do warm-up stretches or activities before you begin a dance session.
– Drink plenty of water before, during and after dancing.
– Make sure you rest between dance sessions.
– Don’t push yourself too far or too fast, especially if you are a beginner.
– Wear professionally fitted shoes appropriate to your style of dance.
– Check with your dance instructor that you are holding the correct form.
– Sit and watch new dance moves first. Learning new moves increases your risk of injury, especially if you are already tired.
– Perform regular leg-strengthening exercises.
– Move as fluidly and gracefully as you can.
– Cool down after a dance session, including stretching.
ALWAYS REMEMBER
•Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes.
•Dancing can improve your muscle tone, strength, endurance and fitness.
•Dancing is a great way to meet new friends.
•See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, you are overweight, over 40 years of age or unfit.
There is an unending supply of dance moves. Thus, it is very difficult to get bored with creating new dance moves. Once you get the basics down, a whole world of options will open up to you.
For more information, Contact Vicky on :
swichivita@yahoo.com
Baloyi Hlavutelo Locreetia Shines Bright with Honours Degree from University of Pretoria
Pretoria – May 5, 2025
In a vibrant and heartwarming celebration held at the University of Pretoria on Monday, May 5, 2025, Baloyi Hlavutelo Locreetia proudly graduated with an Honours degree in Public Administration and Management.
Dressed in academic regalia and beaming with pride, Hlavutelo walked across the graduation stage to thunderous applause from her family, friends, and fellow graduates. The event was a joyful culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Her parents, visibly emotional and proud, described the moment as one of the happiest of their lives. “We are overwhelmed with joy,” said her mother. “Watching our daughter achieve this milestone is a dream come true.”
The colourful ceremony, filled with music, traditional attire, and jubilant celebrations, marked a significant chapter in Hlavutelo’s academic journey. She expressed gratitude to her family, lecturers, and peers for their unwavering support, adding that she hopes to use her qualification to serve her community and contribute to ethical governance in South Africa.
Baloyi Hlavutelo Locreetia’s achievement stands as an inspiration to many young South Africans, reminding them that with determination and support, anything is possible.
Education
From Rejection to Record-Breaker: LASU’s Best Graduating Student Thought She Had Failed in Life
From Rejection to Record-Breaker: LASU’s Best Graduating Student Thought She Had Failed in Life
In an inspiring twist of fate, Miss Isioma Nwosu, who once believed she had failed in life after missing out on her dream course, emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student of Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session with an astounding CGPA of 4.93.
Nwosu, a graduate of Biochemistry, captivated the audience with her moving valedictory speech at LASU’s 28th Convocation Ceremony, held at the university’s main campus in Ojo.
“I thought I had failed in life,” she confessed, recounting the heartbreak of not gaining admission to study Medicine and Surgery—her lifelong ambition.
After finishing secondary school as her set’s valedictorian in 2019, Nwosu faced a major blow: she scored just two points below the cut-off mark to study Medicine at the University of Ibadan. The setback forced her to retake UTME, a decision she said left her humiliated and defeated.
“A valedictorian writing UTME again? It was a bitter pill to swallow,” she recalled.
When she eventually reapplied to study Medicine and Surgery—this time at LASU—fate again dealt her a curveball. She was offered Biochemistry, a course she admitted she had “never heard of” until that moment.
“My heart broke a second time. I couldn’t embrace the course at first,” she said.
But through perseverance, and the encouragement of her lecturers and friends, Isioma not only embraced Biochemistry—she excelled beyond all expectations, finishing top of a graduating class of 11,917 students.
“Dreams Can Be Delayed, Not Denied”
In a stirring message to fellow graduates and aspiring students, Nwosu urged young people not to abandon their dreams in the face of rejection or redirection.
“Never be afraid of having big dreams. Your dreams are the seeds of greatness. You are resilient, capable, and prepared for the future,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of surrounding oneself with “friends of value, vision, and ambition.”
VC Urges Graduates to Shape Their Legacy
In her address, LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, praised the class of 2023/2024, reminding them that they hold the pen to write the next chapter of their lives.
“You’ve demonstrated excellence in both character and learning. Now use that knowledge to drive meaningful change,” she charged.
The university awarded diplomas, degrees, and certificates across various disciplines, celebrating not just academic success but stories of resilience and transformation—none more powerful than that of Isioma Nwosu, who turned disappointment into distinction.
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