When you visit a public square in China, there is one thing you will most likely see.
A group of people working out.
Some of them will be practicing tai chi, yoga, or even hip-hop dance.
This group uses the Melbourne shuffle.
It’s a dance to help them lose weight, exercise, and have a good time. And it’s been around for a couple of years.
The shuffle is a rave dance developed in the 1980s during the Melbourne rave scene. And it remained popular well into the 1990s.
“It is improvised dancing where the person repeatedly “shuffles” the feet inwards, then outwards, while thrusting their arms up and down, or side to side, in time with the beat,” Rashtran wrote.
Apparently, it’s making a comeback.
This particular group has dozens of members and they all know the steps perfectly.
It’s funny how the front line is dominated by middle-aged men. They knew all the steps by heart and they didn’t need to look at the instructor for what to do next.
And they really look like they were really enjoying themselves.
It’s also a great strategy for the instructor to update the shuffle dance into something more contemporary.
It even has variations of spinning and arm movements, so it’s always surprising and never boring.
And that’s especially important since these students joined because they prioritize their physical and mental health.
In an article on Xinhuanet, Han Gong, a 59-year-old musical instrument repairer joined a shuffle dancing group and the dance and group have helped him fend off high blood pressure and loneliness.
“My belly used to hang over my belt but now it’s flat,” Han shared. “I prefer group activities, and then luckily, I found the shuffle dance. I asked myself, ‘why not have a try?'”
He also reported that, after half an hour, his shirt was already drenched in sweat.
Participants hesitated to join at first.
They were a little hesitant because it’s always done in such a public place.
Soon enough, though, they didn’t mind being in public because the health benefits far outweigh any embarrassment they felt before.
Although shuffle dance originated from the rave scene, it’s now being used heavily for health improvement.
It’s a calorie burner, for one.
In fact, there are a lot of health benefits to shuffle dancing. You can burn up to 1,500 calories per hour of shuffle dancing.
Shuffle dancing tones your legs, calves, and glutes, and strengthens joints and ligaments in your legs. It even improves hand-eye coordination.
It also improves mental focus and it helps relieve dancers from everyday stress.
Dancing in public, like what this group does, will also help you get out of your comfort zone and into your courage zone. It can help you boost your confidence and self-esteem.
All because of shuffle dancing.
See this amazing group pull off the perfect public shuffle in the video below!
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