Flamenco Covers ALL New Year’s Resolutions

My students at the last show, Flamenco Salon 2012. Women getting strong, building relationships, kicking butt.

I love making New Year’s resolutions. They usually are the same thing, though: workout more, build community, keep my brain sharp, express myself with confidence.

I was making my usual list for 2013 and then it hit me: FLAMENCO COVERS ALL OF THESE!

Of course, I’m preaching to the choir here, but you could always just hand this list to any of your friends and family that think you’re crazy with your flamenco obsession. Or you can give yourself a break by thinking “I’m hitting maybe 5 birds with one stone from my resolution list with flamenco!”

So, here’s a list of the top 5 New Year’s Resolutions that flamenco covers:

1. Get in shape

Flamenco builds the core muscles for stability. It builds endurance. It’s great cardio- either mild or high intensity. It tones your body all around. One of my students lost 15 pounds by taking my classes. Keep in mind, though, that you need to WORK IT in class. If you don’t feel your muscles engaged, you need to picture me poking your abs, your back, your arms. That will get you engaged and sweating!

2. Make new friends / build community

People who come to my classes make good friends with people just like them- crazy flamenco aficionados! What’s not to love about that? It’s a good environment to be around your peeps.

3. Work the brain to stay young

Learning choreography for a complete dance is like working a puzzle of patterns and sequences. Ask anyone learning one and they’ll tell you how it’s such a mental workout. This is especially true of all the dual coordination movements – hands with footwork and head, etc.

4. Build confidence

Personal strength comes with the physical strength of flamenco dance. It feels fantastic being able to let go and unleash within the dance.

5. Reduce stress

I often get to class exhausted from a full day of parenting and other duties. But the stress just melts away once I’m in the studio, breathing, moving.

So, am I right or am I right?

Does flamenco fit into your New Year’s resolution?

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
Un abrazo
Rina