
Hiking v/s dance: Which is better for building strength?
What's the story
If you want to improve your endurance, hiking and dance are two popular activities to consider. How do they differ?
While both improve your physical stamina, they do so in different environments and through different movements.
While hiking involves traversing natural landscapes, dance combines rhythm and movement in structured settings.
Let's explore the endurance benefits of each.
Drive 1
Hiking: Nature's endurance builder
Hiking is a great way to build endurance by working several muscle groups for hours together.
The different terrains test the body, making it better at cardio and muscular strength.
Not to mention, hiking is great for mental health too because communing with nature can bring down stress levels.
You can improve your lung capacity and stamina with regular hiking, making it a holistic workout for both mind and body.
Drive 2
Dance: Rhythmic stamina enhancer
Dance improves endurance with continuous movement patterns to music.
It demands a lot of coordination, balance, and flexibility, all while giving you a cardiovascular workout that promotes heart health.
Various styles of dance provide different intensities, letting you choose what suits your fitness level best.
Dance also makes you more agile and improves reflexes, all while being a fun way to keep moving without even realizing it.
Drive 3
Comparing caloric burn rates
Both hiking and dance are great to burn calories, but they differ in terms of intensity levels depending on duration and style.
A moderate hike can burn anywhere between 400-700 calories per hour depending on terrain difficulty, while an hour of vigorous dancing may burn around 300-600 calories depending on style of dance you perform.
These activities give you great caloric expenditure, adding to your weight management goals.
Drive 4
Social aspects of each activity
Hiking is mostly a group activity or a solo venture where people commune with nature on their own terms.
This instills a feeling of independence or togetherness among those who are part of the groups.
Meanwhile, dance classes promote bonding as they're usually held in groups. People learn together under the guidance of instructors, building a sense of community among dancers with similar interests.