In Nov. 2024, the Atlantic Magazine had a fascinating article in which the author, Mikala Jamison, claims that a group fitness class is “the best place to make friends as an adult.” She attributes this to the "feel-good chemicals” that accompany exercise (i.e. endorphons, dopamine, and serotonin) which also promote social bonding. Simply put, exercising in sync with a group of people encourages warm relationships among them.
This is one of the themes of my book about Latin dancing and it’s an experience many people in our class can attest to. Furthermore, a Latin dance class provides even more connection than a general group exercise class because the activity involves moving together physically with a partner, or in the case of Rueda de Casino, moving together with a whole group of people…It’s group exercise on steroids. Folks who dance Salsa and Rueda have experienced this warmth and connection firsthand.
If you subscribe to the Atlantic, you can read the full article at theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/11/group-fitness-exercise-friendship/680713 or on Apple News+.
For more information on this topic, get Let’s Get Physical by Danielle Friedman (available on Amazon) or in my book Salsa Dancing & Rueda de Casino Guidebook for Beginner to Advanced Dancers, read Chapter 16, titled: The Synchrony and the Ecstasy: The Astonishing Health Benefits of Dance Exercise."