Two weeks ago the Associated Press reported on Italian research into cardiac rehabilitation. Eighty-nine men and eleven women suffering from heart failure, at an average age of 59 were divided into three groups. One group had the usual supervised treadmill and cycling workouts three times a week. Another group had no exercise. And the third group, the most successful group……waltzed! They waltzed some fast, some slow, for 21 minutes at a time, three times a week. Everything got better including the usual scientific parameters like oxygen uptake and other measurements that predicted fitness. They didn’t just dance….they waltzed!

Imagine the joy of gliding gracefully in the arms of another, twirling along in a giant circle. Do you think they forgot about everything else? Do you think they had a different relationship to their bodies, to their partners?

Now this is great research! Leave it to the Italians to remind us that life can be gracious and good for you too.

So what does this mean for you? It means that just exercising works but joy in movement and learning to be with others and having glorious good times is life! We’re not just machines that need maintenance. Our hearts need company, music, and …. dance!