Advantages of Salsa Dancing in the Hot Sun

Many Salsa party and festival organizers choose to do a great portion of their dance activities outside in the hot sun during the summer months. Temperatures rise literally while hundreds of thousands Salseros and Salseras show off their best Dance moves for hours at a time. OnlineSalsa.com finds it important to inform the international Salsa Dance community on the advantages and disadvantages of dancing in the sun.

We have been waiting for months for the summer to arrive. However, in the last couple of days, many people in the Western world complain about the heat caused by the temperature rising daily above 25 degree Celsius, which is 77 degree Fahrenheit. For the sun-lovers as well as the sun-haters: here is a list of the advantages of our yellow dwarf star.

Advantages of the Sun

A Tanned Skin

You look healthier when you have a tanned skin. The pigment in the epidermis takes care of absorbing and reflecting most of the dreaded ultraviolet radiation, which results in less dangerous radiation penetrating deep into your skin. Another advantage of having an olive brown skin: according to scientists you look 3 kilos – or 6 pounds – lighter.

This is a clip of two tanned kids dancing Salsa during the Pool Party at the LA Salsa Congress.
 

Vitamin D  

Ten minutes of sunlight on your face on a sunny day is in average enough to get your daily dose of Vitamin D, in comparison to two hours in winter time. Vitamin D helps your body to absorb Calcium, which is good for your bones. According to scientific research, Vitamin D also reduces the risk of getting cancer, and it helps your immune system to fight infections. A deprivation of Vitamin D can lead to Osteoporosis, which is the softening of an adult's bone tissue.

Happiness

It is a scientifically proven fact: the sun causes happiness. This happiness is caused by the sunlight producing endorphins – also called “happy hormones” - , which in turn stimulate the thyroid causing you to get more energy and to feel relaxed. The sunlight also strengthens your immune system by making white blood cells that protect your body against viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. That is why you have a lesser chance in catching a flew during the summer months in comparison to the winter period. The sunlight also gets your sex hormones flowing. A research done in Hawaii established that men fall in love quicker during the summer months because of the sunlight's production of testosterone rising sometimes for more than 30 percent.

Good for Muscle Tone

It has been a common knowledge for a very long time: warmth (or heat) is good for your muscles. Changes in the weather have a big influence on the amount of complaints about muscle and joint pain.  People having rheumatic problems will suffer more during the cold period. This is quite different during a sunny summer day: the heat emanating from the sun causes blood vessels to widen, which in turn causes your blood to flow better through your muscles and joints. The sun is also a good medicine against back pain.

The second article, titled “Disadvantages of Salsa Dancing in the Hot Sun” , is coming soon on OnlineSalsa.com.