the parents of baby Archie deserve a period of peace

Her Majesty the Queen is having a bad week, mainly because the gutter-loving British tabloid press is filled with such obscene people who write such nasty things. Prince Harry and his young wife deserve to be able to sit at home in peace and enjoy their baby. They are being hounded to Canada (lovely friendly, hospitable Canada). I hope they will enjoy their time in Canada, stop reading newspapers, cancel twitter and facebook, and live the life of young parents for a few months. I am so ashamed of the British press - all of it. Leave young people alone to live their lives!
As I say on my book, everything we do should promote "the greatest happiness of the greatest number" = a piece of Scottish wisdom for everyone to enjoy.

Dance Fit and Healthy?  Just look at these happy and healthy dancers at the Virginian Christmas 2019 Scottish dance - none of them looks over eighty, which proves that dancing is good for you.

THE RESEARCH:

Dr Kathrin Rehfeld of Magdeburg University in Germany has published research results that explain WHY dance is the best activity for keeping us young. Her 18-month study of a cohort of 68-year-olds compared effects of strenuous exercise routines for volunteers with effects of dance routines for others. I tried to find a picture of Kathrin Rehfeld: google turned up pictures of elderly people dancing, and a message: “Teen brains found in elderly dancers” which is not at all my objective. I hated being a teenager!

Both groups of volunteers – runners and dancers - improved their physical endurance and suppleness; and both showed an increase in the hippocamp region of the brain. 

The first research result appears to be: dance improves your balance. Run on roads or run on the treadmill (which was originally invented in 19^th century England as a punishment for convicts and paupers, if I remember correctly) and you will keep fit and reduce your heart-rate ….. but if you dance, you get the same physical benefits PLUS better balance.

Another benefit of the dance routines was mental. Dr Rehfeld observes: “We taught different dance routines every week, in order to keep the volunteers in a state of apprenticeship. The most difficult part for them was to remember the routines, once the instructor stopped calling out instructions.”  Huh!  Scottish dancers remember the formations after a briefing.

The dancers were also kinder and friendlier people, developed stronger toe-nails and their hair started to curl ….  No, here I am joking. But it is apparent that the combination of dance movement and music provides stimulus to the brain and neurosystem, improving “holistic harmony” if that means anything?  Best are Scottish dances, with their familiar formations constantly  repeated in different and challenging combinations. I am also a Bavarian Schuplattl dancer, which requires energy, balance and suppleness (I must tell Kathrin Rehfeld). But Scottish dancing is mentally more stimulating .... and the music is better.

THE CONCLUSION

The Magdeburg research results (which I here summarize in brutally unscientific form) prove what has already been shown in earlier studies, in New Zealand, UK and USA: that dance is beneficial for young and old alike, maintaining physical fitness, improving balance and keeping our brains active. Even if you not want to have the brain of a teenager, dancing will keep your brain spritely and dynamic, with good balance, friendship, music, joy and laughter.

DanceFitandHealthyAt70 is a reality! All my happy dancing friends prove it .... and so do I.