60 U.S. Cities Simultaneously Dance Their Way to Health
BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Spirit of Women Health Network announces that more than 60 cities will host the 2008 Spirit of Women National Day of Dance for Health on Saturday, February 23, 2008 to inspire women and their families toward better overall health. Proving that exercise can be both fun and beneficial to the heart, the program combines the fun of dancing to different forms of music, such as ballroom dancing, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, salsa, swing, and hip-hop, with health screenings and consumer education on heart disease and other women’s health issues.
“Dancing is a sport we all love, and an activity that has powerful benefits for our heart, lungs, brain and just about every other organ,” said Tanya Abreu, President and National Program director of Spirit of Women. “On February 23, we are dancing for fun and hoping to inspire a lifetime of healthy living for every participant.”
Lasting four to six hours, events will include dancing, prominent physician speakers, screenings, tips on healthy cooking and stress reduction, and other activities to remind participants that heart disease prevention can be a fun and energizing experience. Day of Dance for Health events are presented by affiliate hospitals of the Spirit of Women Health Network in more than 60 cities across the United States.
As Day of Dance for Health takes place during Heart Health Awareness Month, several celebrities have autographed Red Shoes, the symbol designed to encourage women to take action for their heart health, for auction to benefit women’s heart health research and education. The Celebrity Red Shoe Auction taking place from February 24 – 29 at redshoeinitiative.org and includes shoes autographed by Carlos Santana, Juliet Huddy of “The Mike and Juliet Show” and Kelly Ripa of “Live with Regis and Kelly”. Previous auctions have included Grammy award-winning recording artists Alanis Morissette and LeAnn Rimes, as well as the “Desperate Housewives” and “Dancing With The Stars” personalities.
Dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking, or riding a bike (as many as 200-400 calories per hour). If done on a regular basis as a form of exercise, many health benefits result, including weight maintenance or weight loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management (lowering), increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength and an over-all sense of well-being. In addition, dancing can help develop new social connections as well as enhance and strengthen relationships.
Nearly 500,000 women die each year of cardiovascular disease, making it the leading cause of death for American women. One in two women will die of heart disease, yet it is rare for women to personalize their individual risk for cardiovascular disease.
For locations and more information, visit dayofdance.org.
The 2008 National Day of Dance for Health is presented by the Spirit of Women Health Network, The Heart Truth campaign, Good Housekeeping magazine, The Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership, Quaker Oats, Wheat Thins, Revolution Health, the P.A.D. Coalition and the National Stroke Association.
The Heart Truth is a national awareness campaign on women and heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Heart Truth introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2003.
Good Housekeeping magazine-together with the Good Housekeeping Institute and the Good Housekeeping Seal-has become synonymous with the gold standard of quality and integrity. Good Housekeeping was founded in 1885, and maintains a commitment to the modern home and to a woman’s quality of life. It publishes 15 editions worldwide, and is an internationally recognized brand that sets the standard to which all other women’s service magazines aspire.
Spirit of Women is a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women’s lives with innovative health and community programs. Spirit of Women Hospitals touch the lives of millions of women each year through the presentation of educational events, consumer membership programs, annual conferences, marketing communications and grassroots efforts to improve the health and well-being of women everywhere. Spirit of Women enables participating hospitals to focus on community needs while providing the strength of national support. Visit spiritofwomen.com.
Spirit of Women
CONTACT: Tara DiMilia, +1-908-369-7168, or Amy Covino, +1-201-774-3111,both for Spirit of Women
Web site: http://www.spiritofwomen.org/http://www.spiritofwomen.com/http://www.dayofdance.org/