Dancing keeps your body strong, trim and toned – and helps women manage changes that come with menopause

Dancing is an excellent form of exercise for menopausal women experiencing declining oestrogen levels, high cholesterol and other metabolic disturbances

As well as improving heart and lung function and boosting aerobic fitness, dancing improves coordination, flexibility and can improve emotional well-being

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Elizabeth Lai (left), 62, takes a Zumba Dance class at The Yoga Room in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Dancing has been shown to have numerous health benefits for postmenopausal women like her. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 2:15pm, 3 Oct 2021

Elizabeth Lai started Zumba classes about 15 years ago. She says the fast-paced Latin-inspired dance is just what she needs to feel strong, fit and energised, especially on long and stressful days. It’s also partly thanks to Zumba that Lai’s been able to get a handle on her postmenopausal symptoms.

“Zumba is easy to follow with just visual cues and you don’t need dance experience,” the 62-year-old from Hong Kong says. “I love the music and the fact that I always feel so amazing after a class. It’s a vigorous workout and a great opportunity to de-stress and decompress.

“Dealing with menopause at this age can be a challenge, but I believe that my active and healthy lifestyle, which Zumba is a part of, has made symptoms like mood swings and hot flushes a little easier to deal with.”

Dancing was recently discovered to be an excellent form of exercise for women transitioning through menopause. During “the change”, which typically begins at 51, women tend to gain weight because of declining oestrogen levels and experience high cholesterol and other metabolic disturbances, which put them at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

They may also be less physically active, which might translate to a reduction in lean muscle mass and a drop in bone density, raising the likelihood of fractures and falls.

These changes often leave women in their 50s and 60s with a poorer self-image and lower self-esteem.