Why go line- dancing? Is that a question you've ever asked yourself? Well the answer is why not? It's a chance for good safe exercise in a friendly environment that not expensive and most of all it's fun! According to those who do it, it's the most fun way to active ageing.

People who would not ordinarily take up exercise of any kind and cringe at the thought of it have taken up line dancing and become hooked.

It's especially good for retired people with extra time to fill in. If you want to stay active line dancing can help you to do that. It's somewhere to go, something fun to do and whatever the weather it's never cancelled! You don't need any fancy clothing or footwear, people are welcome to wear whatever they feel comfortable in and remember age is not a barrier.

The physical benefits of line dancing include improved balance and memory retention and increased bone mass that can be lost with age and lack of exercise. Line dancing improves agility, relieves stress and gives a moderate cardio workout. Dancers say friendships are forged, laughter shared and it's all done to good music.

A variety of music rhythms are used in line dancing, Cha-Cha, Waltz, Rock and Roll, its not all country music. Being with a group of people of all shapes, sizes and abilities having fun on the dance floor can be very liberating. As the late Dame Thora Hird said, 'you don't stop because you get old; you get old because you stop!'

So get off the couch and get along to a beginners line dancing class and start having some fun. It doesn't matter a hoot if your get it wrong, just doing it is the important thing.
The Leisure Line-Dancing Club holds Beginners classes every Monday starting at 12.30pm at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Hall in Collingwood Street, just over the Collingwood Street Bridge, on the corner of Grove Street. The cost is just $3 per session.