How to Survive Your First Aerobic Dance Class

Exercise promotes a healthy heart and an excellent, oxygenated brain. Aerobic dance is a fun way to achieve that. Aerobic means getting your heart pumping and your muscles using oxygen. Moving to music motivates and makes exercise seem less like work. A good aerobic dance routine includes a warm-up, a high impact part and a cool down. Be prepared—the moves can be complex.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Go to a class and watch. Observing helps you see exactly what is involved from beginning to end.

2. Arrive a few minutes early to the first class and talk to fellow dancers. Find out how long they've been doing it and how they benefit from it.

3. Wear loose, light clothing and drink some water before you begin. Both will help keep you cool during the workout. Also, purchase good shoes to wear to the aerobic dance class because excellent support for your feet is key.

4. Enjoy the warm-up period. The routine stays fairly simple. Watch the instructor and mimic as best as you can.

5. Hang in there during the middle, high impact portion of the class as your body is sure to tire. Stop and observe from the sidelines when you need a break. This is a good time to watch the patterns in the routine.

6. Rejoin the group when you're ready. The last part is the cool down, which is a good opportunity to watch and mimic at a slower pace.

7. Leave at the end of the aerobic dance class feeling good knowing that you have accomplished something very important—the first class.

Tips & Warnings

• As with any exercise program, it is good to consult your doctor before beginning.

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