Village Squares, Square Dance Club, Orleans, Ontario, Canada

At a time when access to fitness facilities, health and dietary information
is at an all time high, obesity and cardiovascualr disease remain a great
threat to the boomer generation.  Never has the need for physical fitness
been more obvious.

All too often at our annual physical check-up the doctor asks, “What
kind of physical exercise do you get?”.  Quickly the majority of the
population scans the memory banks to recall the hiking weekend in May,
the golf game in July or the cycling tour in September.  Cardiovascular
health relies on regular, not sporatic exercise.

Square dancing provides a number of health benefits related to physical,
mental and social health.  Dancing can:
     -  provide cardio conditioning
     -  provide low impact aerobics
     -  improve circulation to the joints
     -  lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and
         improve your chlosterol profile
     -  strengthen bones
     -  slow loss of bone mass
     -  increase muscle stamina and tone
     -  help improve flexibility
     -  help to burn calories

The drawback to many forms of physical activity designed to “get us into
shape”, rests in the fact that they are activities performed as individuals,
such as golfing, swimming, and cycling.  Although great activities,
convient in many respects, considerable self discipline is required to
maintain any long term training programme.  Remember the training
equipment that sits idle in the basement collecting dust, promising
great abs and endless stamana?  Well, the beauty of square dancing is
you can’t dance alone. The social interaction in the club makes the
exercise benefits painless and enjoyable.  There is a sense of tremendous
satisfaction when your square has correctly performed a complex series
of “calls”. 

Dancing off Calories

How many calories will you burn while dancing is dependant on the type
of dancing.  Here is a range of the most popular varieties, based on a
150 pound person, for one hour:

     -  Swing dancing:  235
     -  Ballroom dancing:  265
     -  Square dancing:  280
     -  Ballet:  300
     -  Belly dancing: 380
     -  Salsa dancing:  420+
     -  Aerobic dancing:  540+

We hope this introduction to an alternate way of keeping fit has peaked
your interest.  If so, the Ottawa area is very fortunate to have a large
number of clubs teaching “Basic: or beginning square dancing.  Each
weekday evening there is a beginning class offered somewhere in the area. 
It only remains to select the one most suited to your schedule.

The VILLAGE SQUARES club has been a cornerstone of the Orleans Community
cultural scene for over 35 years.  Newcomer couples are welcome to join our
free, no obligation, Open House evenings Sept 3rd & 10th at the

ROY HOBBS COMMUNITY CENTRE
109 LARCH AVE
ORLEANS ONTARIO

Or contact any one of the executive…..