I remember the moment I decided to use Just Dance for fitness. I was already several years into my mental health journey and had hit (yet another) wall. I decided I didn’t like my life’s direction and thought long and hard about how I could inspire positive change in my life. I was determined to exercise more, build confidence, and be a more disciplined person but in a way that was fun and sustainable. That’s when I thought about dancing.

Instead of cutting it up in a club and spending hundreds of dollars on classes, I chose to lace up my Roshes, make space in my living room, and commit to playing Just Dance on a regular basis. Since then, I’ve seen positive results in my physical health and my self-esteem. Here are four surprising ways playing Just Dance helped me (and can help you too!)

Builds Confidence One Step at a Time 

According to the experts at cbc.ca, hundreds of thousands of people deal with chorophobia, an extreme fear of dancing. I don’t blame them: dancing can be terrifying. As fun as it may be, it also leaves us feeling exposed and puts us at the center of attention. The idea of being subjected to criticism in a moment where we’re feeling vulnerable is an experience most would rather avoid. If you’re too afraid to dance because you’re self-conscious or insecure about it, Just Dance is a great way to build that confidence right from the privacy of your own home. 

Dancing is a quick and fun way to build confidence and body positivity, giving you a space to express yourself however you see fit. When you play Just Dance, not only will practicing the choreo help you feel more confident in your body and footwork, but the game encourages you throughout gameplay too. When you’re busting it down, the game hypes you up using affirming word prompts like “super” and “perfect,” encouraging you to hit your marks and keep those knees high. As you dance, your score gets converted to stars increasing up to five at best. The best of the best get promoted to Superstar and Megastar status, whose flashing lights and dazzling words are the Just Dance equivalent of hearing a crowd chant your name. High scorers will earn a spot on the global leaderboard, securing a spot in Just Dance history. Additionally, every time you dance the game gifts you rewards and incentives, including alternative versions of your favorite songs and the most adorable avatars you will ever see. If that doesn’t inflate your ego, I don’t what will. 

Mood-Boosting 

I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression since I was a teen. Recently during a depressive episode, I decided to follow the advice of an expert and use movement to expel my negative feelings. I turned on Just Dance, created a 30-minute-long playlist, and danced my dark cloud away. The joy from the bright colors and upbeat lyrics was so overwhelming it at first made me cry. Over time, as I continued to push through the routines, my tear-stained cheeks formed a broad smile. By the end, I couldn’t remember why I was sad in the first place. 

At the time, using Just Dance to improve my depressive symptoms seemed like a stretch, but turns out there’s science behind it. Psychologists have conducted studies that link dancing to mental health and concluded that dancing is a natural mood booster. The combination of emotional release, upbeat tempos, and cardiovascular exercise work together to make us feel euphoric and energized, influencing our overall well-being. Experts agree that dancing has several psychological benefits and that people who dance regularly see the most consistent results. 

Additionally, the entire Just Dance experience emulates joy from its colorful backgrounds to its costumes and avatars. Combine that with a good beat and a fun routine, and before you know it you’ll be too busy having fun in your state of flow to stress about negativity.   

A Fun Way to Workout

Going to the gym hasn’t always been practical: most times it feels like a hassle. Dancing is my preferred way to work up a sweat. It engages every aspect of your body — from your neck to your glutes — while also making exercising fun. 

If you’re looking for a fun way to strengthen your muscles, increase flexibility, and combine the benefits of aerobics and cardio, Just Dance checks all of these boxes, increasing your heart rate and engaging muscles you didn’t know you had. 

Not only is Just Dance more convenient than joining a gym, but it also has a more affordable subscription called Just Dance Unlimited. With Just Dance Unlimited, you have the option of choosing between a monthly ($3.99), quarterly ($9.99), or yearly subscription ($24.99). The subscription grants you access to the entire Just Dance catalog, unlocking hundreds of routines from various versions of the Just Dance series. Players can dance to one song at a time or create a playlist hours long so you can make sure you get a good workout in. Take things a step further by activating Sweat Mode, which replaces your star meter with a calorie tracker that totals the number of calories you burn, giving you even more incentive to push through tough routines.

A New Wrinkle in the Brain

When I first got into Just Dance, it was tempting to pick the same routines over and over. The familiarity of practicing the same routines brought me comfort. However, I soon found that sticking to the same songs watered down the experience and the same routines that used to light me up weren’t as thrilling to me anymore. I decided to switch things up and challenged myself to create a new playlist everyday with songs I’d never tried before. 

The results were astounding. The benefits of moving my body in unfamiliar ways not only excited me but it sparked a willingness for me to try new things in other areas of life too. That’s because, according to psychology, stepping outside your comfort zone is contagious. Every time you try something new, whether it’s a recipe or the Bachata, you create an appetite for change. Increasing your threshold for newness is helpful to someone who wants to make major changes in their life.

Learning new things can also impact:

1. Your memory.
2. Your skills.
3. Your intelligence.

If you are trying to inspire change in your life, trying new routines in Just Dance is a small, simple way to start. With several genres to choose from, including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Salsa, and K-pop, you’ll have your pick of the litter.   

When I first played Just Dance, I was just looking for a way to re-introduce dance into my life. What I got instead was a fun, healthy habit that would benefit my life in four surprising ways.