The Exercise Doc

💃 Excited to share my recent feature in , where I talked to about whether or not dance counts as cardio! 🕺

Dancing can definitely elevate your heart rate and help meet recommended activity levels of at least 150 minutes / week of moderate intensity exercise. Plus, it’s a fun way to get moving, and enjoyment of physical activity goes a long way toward maintenance of behaviors long-term.

The catch? While dancing is great for general fitness, it might not be the most efficient way to train for a big event like a marathon. If your goal is to build endurance, improve strength, or work toward specific adaptations for health or performance reasons, you’ll want to add other training, too.

*My convo with Well+Good focused mainly on dance-based fitness classes, rather than someone training to be a ballerina or competitive dancer. That’s different, of course 😊

Do you think dance counts as cardio?!

🧠 Behavior change isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the foundation for long-term health. I’m proud to have co-authored a chapter in Obesity and Weight Management: The Exercise Professional’s Guide to Fitness Programming, a comprehensive new resource edited by Dr. Alexios Batrakoulis and featuring insights from 48 experts across the field.⁣
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and I authored Chapter 4: Coaching Lifestyle Modifications and Behavior Change. It dives into real-world strategies fitness pros can use to support clients with overweight and obesity — because sustainable results start with understanding WHY people move, not just how.⁣
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📘 If you’re a coach, trainer, or health pro ready to make an impact, this is one resource you’ll want on your shelf.⁣
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🧠 Rockstar author lineup includes:

With exercise, we’re in it for the long game.

No quick fixes, just putting in the work time after time after time.

In fact, the definition of exercise is: repetitive movement of skeletal muscle done for the specific purpose of improving performance or reaching a health adaptation.

Consistency and discipline need to lead the way, with community and enjoyment showing up too. I love this true story about how group exercise can provide that consistency for people over time.

Group exercise is certainly not the only answer and does not necessarily propel someone to meet specific performance goals, but it deserves a seat at the table.

How do you feel about group exercise?