Steven Bock from 5th Avenue Dance tells us everything he has discovered about just how good dancing is for your wellbeing.
Dancing to be happy
We teach partnership. We teach men to lead so that he can ask any lady to dance, and absolutely know that he can. We teach ladies to follow so they can accept any invitation to dance and know that it will work. She will not have to take over or get trodden on. Once you know how to ballroom dance, you will be able to dance to any music that would be played at a ballroom, in a restaurant, on a cruise, in a club or at a party. That’s the fun part! But there’s other magnificent things to know about dancing. It’s incredibly good for your wellbeing.
DANCE THERAPY Dancing in your later years can have a wonderful effect on your body and wellbeing. A recent study concluded that one of the great ways to stave off cognitive decline was to learn ballroom dancing. It gets you out of the house, it gets you active, it is social, and it engages your brain. Says Professor Richard Powers of Stanford University, “For centuries, dance manuals and other writings have lauded the health benefits of dancing, usually as physical exercise. More recently we’ve seen research on further health benefits of dancing, such as stress reduction and increased serotonin level, with its sense of well‑being.”
In one study, out of 11 physical activities tested over a 21-year period, only dancing significantly helped. But more specifically, ballroom and Latin dancing. And even more specifically – SOCIAL ballroom and Latin dancing. The reason for why these two dances in particular are so good for your brain is because of the random nature of them. It is a lead and follow dance – there’s no set routine or sequence of step patterns. This means the brain has to make instant decisions. And that is what keeps your brain well oiled.
COGNITIVE BENEFITS
Another major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one’s mind by dancing can ward off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The 21-year study of senior citizens, 75 and older, was led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, funded by the National Institute on Aging. Their method for objectively measuring mental acuity in aging was to monitor rates of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Dance parties
The study wanted to see if any physical or cognitive recreational activities influenced mental acuity. They discovered that some activities had a significant beneficial effect. Other activities had none. They studied cognitive activities such as reading books, writing for pleasure, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards and playing musical instruments. And they studied physical activities like playing tennis or golf, swimming, bicycling, dancing, walking for exercise and doing housework. One of the surprises of the study was that almost none of the physical activities appeared to offer any protection against dementia. There can be cardiovascular benefits of course, and exercise, as we all know, gives us health and longevity, but the focus of this study was the mind.
There was one important exception: the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing.
■ Bicycling, swimming, golf – 0%
■ Reading – 35% reduced risk of dementia
■ Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week – 47%
■ Dancing frequently – 76%. This was the greatest risk reduction of any activity studied, cognitive or physical.
BODY BENEFITS Dancing can:
■ Improve the condition of your hearts and lungs; due to the aerobic nature of some of the faster dances. At 5th Avenue Dance we structure your 45 minute lessons to warm up with a Foxtrot which moves around the room, then a slower Latin dance The Rumba, before we hit the faster tempos of Swing, a break with some wonderful Waltz, before moving onto a faster Cha Cha then cool down with a Tango.
■ Increase your muscular strength. When your dancing, you are moving! Our 5th Avenue Dance instructors are very aware of your starting level of fitness, and take this into account as we teach you to dance. Within a very short period of time you can increase what you can do!
■ Increase endurance. Dancing does not seem like exercise in the same way as going to the gym, riding a bike or training for a triathlon. But dancing and moving for 45 minutes a good workout. Plus there is music and fun (not to mention the skill you are learning).
■ Give you better social skills. At 5th Avenue Dance we are constantly recommending changing partners in group lessons. Even those who have their own partner go out of the way to dance with others. ■
BOOK YOUR FREE LESSON!
Don’t wait, come have a free lesson! Walk in – DANCE OUT!
Gourmet Meals has been busy in the kitchen cooking up some warming winter dishes! These meals will satisfy all your winter comfort food cravings. Plus they have a healthy dose of vitamins and nutrients.
Food. We all love it. And Gourmet Meals are at the expert level. They deliver healthy, nutritious, and great-tasting frozen meals to your door. The company is an approved NDIS provider of home-delivered meals. This means that home delivery of these meals is part-funded under the NDIS. If you are eligible, two-thirds of the cost-plus delivery will be covered by the NDIS. Gourmet Meals are very competitively priced and taste like good old-fashioned home cooking. They have launched a new winter menu…so let’s have a taste!
STARTERS
Kick-off your meal with starters like Minestrone Soup, an Italian vegetable soup made with tomato-based beef stock, potato, beans and pasta. Warming and delicious.
Minestrone Soup
MAINS
Of the main courses, our favourite is the Beef Goulash, a hearty beef stew slow-cooked in an aromatic sauce served with roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and a cauliflower bake.
Beef Goulash
Another option is the Moroccan Lamb. It is pulled lamb slow cooked with exotic Middle Eastern spices served on a bed of rice, chickpeas, dried apricot and almonds.
Moroccan lamb
You might want to satisfy your pork cravings with a tender and tasty Pork Roast with Apple Sauce. This comes with potato wedges, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower on the side. Or you can party like a pescatarian with the Salmon Chive Sauce – a fillet of salmon in a creamy chive sauce, potato stack, green beans, broccoli and Asian greens.
DESSERT
Apple & Rhubarb
Check out the delicious sweet treats, like Apple Rhubarb. It’s the perfect winter comfort dessert served with custard and topped with a sprinkling of sweet crumble. ■
WINTER HEALTHY EATING
Studies indicate that we tend to eat more during the winter months. There are a few reasons for this.
■ With the drop in temperature, our body has to work doubly hard to keep itself warm. That’s why we end up craving high-carb foods and desserts. The sugar and starch in these foods provide our body the heat it requires.
■ We tend to drink less water in winter because the cold temperature reduces thirst. We mistake our body’s thirst for hunger and eat more food when we just need to drink some water.
■ “Winter blues” hit. A significant number of people actually suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and this makes them eat more.
There is no reason not to give in to your winter comfort food cravings, as long as less nutritious foods are eaten in moderation and your overall diet is healthy and balanced to ensure you feel your best all winter long.
Winter Menu
Gourmet Meals makes mealtimes easy by delivering healthy, tasty, individually portion-controlled frozen meals, so you can prepare home-cooked meals for your loved ones with no hassle. There are no contracts, orders can be made on a casual basis, and all that is required is a minimum order of $49 and a delivery fee of $7.50.
Winter Menu (Page 2)
If you want to try just a couple of meals first, then the meals are also available in the gluten-free freezer section of selected IGAs, Foodworks and independent stores. You can look up your nearest retailer on gourmetmeals.com.au.
Phone 1300 112 112 to order or check out the winter menu on their website at: gourmetmeals.com.au
Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin. But these aren’t the only discomforts domesticated animals can suffer. Here’s how to prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s health.
Cuddly Cats in the Winter
Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified. If your pet is wet, towel-dry them as soon as they come inside, paying special attention to their feet and between the toes.
Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. If your dog is long-haired, simply keep them trimmed. If your dog is short‑haired, consider getting a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly.
Check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes. Massaging paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect them.
Bath your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in the wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help keep her well-hydrated and her skin less dry.
Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect. Don’t leave pets outdoors when the temperature drops, keep your pets inside with you and your family. Dogs are happiest when taken out frequently for walks and exercise but keep them inside the rest of the time.
Furry Friends Need More Care in the Winter
Cars are one of many hazards to small animals. Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car’s hood to scare them away before starting your engine.
Be sure your horses have access to a barn or a three-sided run-in so they can escape the wind and cold. While not all horses will need to be blanketed, blankets will help horses keep warm and dry, especially if there is any rain. If you’ve body-clipped your horses, keep them blanketed throughout the winter.
Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather. Cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death. ■
A stylish silver beauty called Leanne Coutis is Q Super Centre’s Ambassador. Silver Magazine follows Leanne around the gorgeous shopping centre as she tells us about her favourite things.
Leanne Coutis
On the corner of Bermuda and Markeri Streets in Mermaid Waters, Q Super Centre is a shopping mecca right in the centre of the Gold Coast’s style map.
Style Inspiration
With the absolutely beautiful weather on the Gold Coast, an outdoor shopping centre means that we can shop for our favourite things. Also, enjoy being outside as well. The centre is on one level only, so there are no stairs to navigate. And it is beautifully landscaped, giving the feeling of being in an oasis. Protected from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Leanne first caught Q Super Centre’s eye when she was shooting a short video for the Stellar Hair salon in the centre. With her bright personality and her ‘X factor’, she has become an absolute media powerhouse. Also, the perfect match for Q Super Centre.
STYLE INSPIRATION
As the Ambassador for Q Super Centre, Leanne gets to discover the fresh style finds and bring them to her videos. Her upcoming series covers Winter 2021 fashion. “It is all about going bold with patterns, accessories and shapes.
Fashionista
Fashion retailer The Style Forum at Q Super Centre serves up fantastic prints and statement pieces to feature in your everyday looks. You can also layer your look from Niche with a comfortable feel and style focus, and that is easily achieved as they are a major stockist of the Betty Basics range. If you are after a bohemian look then Urban Honey can offer an exclusive range of clothing. It is designed and made especially for their store.”
Great Restaurants
As for beautiful things for your abode, The Belle Collection brings it home with a blend of homewares, fashion and jewellery with a breezy on-trend resort feel. “A new addition to the centre is Gem Emporium which offers stunning homewares in a relaxed and inspirational environment. This season it is all about bringing together colours, patterns, and textures with a feel-good approach.”
DOG FRIENDLY!
Leanne and her dog Leo are often seen checking out the latest style buys at the centre. This is because Q Super Centre counts pooch as a member of your family. The centre is one of the few shopping destinations that welcome pups. The centre has installed dog watering stations along with handy dog waste bags throughout the centre. It is to ensure your four-legged pal is well looked after. Just be sure to check the dog guidelines advertised in the centre so customers and dogs can be safe and happy.
Brand Ambassador and Silver Beauty
GREAT EATS
Need a quick refresher during all that retail therapy? The food offerings are great and more eateries are being added all the time. New openings include Siam Street Thai, Mo Mo Pho (Vietnamese), Wishbone Rotisserie and Black Swan Coffee House. ■
Leanne Coutis
Leanne stars in videos of her great finds on Q Super Centre social media. (Facebook.com/ QSuperCentre or Instagram @qsupercentre or log onto qsupercentre.com.au). Follow to see Leanne’s favourite picks, including style, food, offers and events around Q Super Centre.
PETS CAN HELP ELDERLY OWNERS get active, shake off stress, and feel less pain, according to a recent poll.
Only pet owners can truly understand the joy a pet can bring to their lives. Yet according to this poll, pets do more than provide happiness to humans – they bring mental and physical health benefits, too. This is according to the results of the National Poll on Healthy Aging by the University of Michigan. The poll found that 55% of older adults own a pet, with more than three-quarters of respondents saying that having pets reduces their stress and gives them a sense of purpose.
Correlation Between Dogs and Activeness
Two-thirds of pet owners, including 78% of dog owners, also shared that their pet keeps them physically active. Meanwhile, owning pets seemed to even be more beneficial for respondents who said their health was fair or poor, with over 70% saying their pet helps them cope with physical or emotional symptoms. An incredible 46% said that their pets helped them take their mind off the pain.
Mary Janevic, who helped design the poll, said, “Relationships with pets tend to be less complicated than those with humans, and pets are often a source of great enjoyment. They also provide older adults with a sense of being needed and loved.”
Professor Cathleen Connell has studied the role of companion animals in older adults’ lives. “We have long known that pets are a common and naturally occurring source of support.” But aside from taking care of pets, Connell adds that maintaining social connections and activities with friends and family helps improve older people’s quality of life. “Helping older adults find low-cost ways to support pet ownership while not sacrificing other important relationships and priorities is an investment in overall mental and physical health.”
And that is exactly what the AWLQ does! If you are thinking about adopting, then this will surely set your mind at ease. ■
Click here to know more about the betterment of elderly life.
CHRIS AND GINNY are just two examples of the growing number of retirees who have made the move into The Verge. One of the new vertical retirement villages by RetireAustralia. The vertical community is moments from the sea and has sweeping views over Burleigh Golf Course.
Vertical retirement villages are becoming much more common. Going vertical means that amenities that retirees love, like gyms, cafes, rooftop bbq areas and multipurpose rooms for community activities and social gatherings are just an elevator ride away. Also, seeing as we are living longer, more healthy lives than ever before in history, we have a clear need for fun for a lot longer. Living vertical means that these centres can be placed right in vibrant urban villages, near restaurants, good shopping haunts and cultural centres. The Verge is just three minutes from the beach.
The Verge Retirement Village at Burleigh Golf Course
Chris, who describes himself as independent, said he initially thought a retirement community would never be for him. But Ginny changed his mind. “I could see the fact that it was the right decision, I just didn’t want to let go. I think all of us only need to hear about someone else’s misfortune to see how difficult it becomes if you don’t make the decision yourself when you are able and healthy to make it.”
Ginny said it was absolutely the right choice to move to The Verge. “It’s not a nice thought, but if you get sick down the track or have a fall, someone else is making the decision for you. We’ve had the time to be able to think about it and for everybody to get used to the idea. Now, we have everything at our fingertips. It all makes sense.”
Not everyone may need assistance today, but The Verge is five steps ahead regardless. There are wide corridors, lots of storage, natural light, switches and power points at accessible heights, deep showers and reinforced bathroom walls to retrofit railings. These are all built-in without disturbing the aesthetic or sacrificing the comforts of home.
Now that the couple has settled in, they say they haven’t missed yard work and maintaining a house. Says Chris, “I absolutely love not having to mow the lawn. It was the right decision. It frees me up to do the things that really matter to me. And it’s nice to know help is there if we need it.” ■
Three Verge display apartments are available for viewing.
