The community is swinging into the fall season with a variety of events.
Starting with something for the youngsters, there is a Kids' Lego Club Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the North Battleford Library from 4 to 5 p.m. It's for kids aged six to 12. For more information, contact the library.
That evening, also at the library, will be an event for anyone interested in proper nutrition. Wednesday, Sept. 18, the Canadian Cancer Society, in partnership with the Prairie North Health Region, will present Eating for the Health of It. It will run from 7 to 8 p.m. Stacey Wiens, registered dietitian, will be presenting.
On the weekend, there's an opportunity to go dancing. Here's a chance to get some exercise (burn about 200 calories per hour) and socialize. Everyone is welcome to attend Club 70 at the Royal Canadian Legion at 1352 - 100th St. in North Battleford on Saturday, Sept. 21. Music will be by Magic Touch and the dancing starts at 8 p.m. A midnight lunch will finish out the evening.
Let's look at dancing for a moment. There are numerous studies out that say all forms of dancing are good for you, including a New England Journal of Medicine report that says frequent dancing is the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia.
Dancers themselves can tell you it makes them feel good physically and lifts their mood. It turns out it's also good for your brain. If you've seen the brain training apps and programs available online, you'll see they are based on decision-making, usually the quicker the better.
Dancing is the same. When you are on the floor with 40 or 50 other dancers swirling around the floor, if you are not using your brain you will come off the floor bruised and battered.
Making it around a dance floor unscathed is called 'floorcraft." It's a split-second decision making process up to the leader of the partnership that he, usually, needs to not only make, but communicate to his partner. Left? Right? Forward? Back (preferably not)? Hold? Turn? If he is unsuccessful - ouch!
For the follower, it's a different set of decisions to make, but it is nonetheless just as much a split second process as the leader's. Quick decisions lead to successful execution - or not. Again, ouch!
Frequent dancing, however, leads to a point where these decisions come quickly and easily, therefore enjoyably; you are actually having fun improving, not only your physical well-being, but your mental and cognitive health as well.
If you can't go this weekend, Topline Social Dance Club is next Saturday, same time, same place. Happy dancing!
