Dance fitness is on the cusp of a landmark moment, and that too on the grandest of stages – the Olympics. Breakdancing, also known as breaking, b-boying, and b-girling, is set to make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024. The Games will be an avenue to showcase the dance style to the world, creating awareness on how it challenges both the mind and body through its dynamism. It will also open the doors for dedicated breakers to showcase their prowess.
Breakdancing has the potential to redefine fitness regimens through its dynamic moves, strength, and agility demands, say experts.
Breakdancing as a fitness activity
Bengaluru-based break dancer, Arjun Thomas, never used to indulge in much physical activity as a child. It did not take much to be drawn to breakdancing when his friend’s brother introduced him to vintage breakdancing footage of some German break dancers.
“What drew me to breaking is that more than just being involved in a physical activity, you must use your intellect to learn and execute it,” says Thomas, a member of Black Ice Crew, Bengaluru.
“In breaking, each person can bring their own advantage or what they are good at to the dance. If you are smarter, you recognize and employ that aspect better during the process, or if you are more into music, you can use that advantage to thrive in it,” elaborates Thomas.
The inclusive community and exciting music of breaking inspired Johanna Rodrigues, member of Black Ice Crew, to learn and master the dance form. It also powered her to attain her fitness goals. The music, and the spontaneous and creative moves that one makes while grooving to the music is what sets breakdancing apart from other fitness activities for Rodrigues.
“Breaking is also something that can be adapted to different body types and to everyone regardless of age or gender,” says Rodrigues, co-founder of Break Brahma Studio, a community for hip hop and yoga.
Breaking movements that make you fit
Thomas compares breaking to sprinting, a form of high intensity running characterized by a rapid and maximal effort over a short distance.
“The average person performs breakdancing for 40 to 60 seconds at a stretch [in breaking, a round is referred to as a run]. Since it is a strenuous physical activity like high-intensity interval training (HIIT), it is challenging to perform continuously for a lengthy period of time,” says Thomas.
Breakers often employ the Tabata technique as a means of increasing their stamina during each run. While keeping a timer, they dance intensely for a few seconds, take a short break for a few seconds, and then repeat for a few rounds. It serves as an effective workout for enhancing aerobic and anaerobic capacity through quick bursts of intense breaking and rest intervals.
Certain movements target the core, providing a strong core. “Breakdancing moves, such as freezes, windmills, backspin, flares, etc., engage and challenge the core muscles,” says Rodrigues. Through dynamic and isometric contractions, these moves contribute to a strong and stable core.
You have to support your weight with your hands, legs, and back during specific movements in breaking. “As a result, weight is constantly placed on various bodily muscles. Given this, regular practice will naturally increase your strength by time,” explains Thomas.
Breakdancing a mindful practice
Breaking is so strenuous that you must completely focus on the music and body movements, or as Thomas says, “Your mind has to come into the moment to do breaking.”
It is easy to enter a meditative state once you begin to break. Just by the nature of the dance, you must completely focus on the music and movement where you enter a flow state. In psychology, flow state refers to a mental state of optimal concentration and complete absorption in an activity, where individuals experience a heightened sense of focus, enjoyment, and timelessness.
“Once you finish the breaking runs, it clears your thoughts, even if there is anything bothering you”, says Thomas
Among breakers, the sense of community is far stronger and contributes to the benefits for their psychological well-being. “We work with a lot of like-minded people. Being around them and celebrating breakdancing together really helps in terms of mental health,” says Rodrigues.
Tips for beginners
The basic tip for beginners from seasoned break dancers is to have trust in the process. Given that it is a unique challenging dance style that requires a lot of physical exertion, learning would not be easy for everyone and may require some time.
“You aren’t required to rush the process when you’re learning with others, and you observe that they are picking things up more quickly,” says Thomas.
“It is not necessary for you to learn something faster just because someone else is. It is important that you take your time to understand how the movements fit your body. There may be certain moves that are easier for your body than others, and there may be other moves that are tougher for you. Think of it as a very personal journey, and practice in a way that is safe for your body,” adds Thomas.
Rodrigues advises making the process much simpler by comprehending how each movement relates to your body.
“I would say that the best way to do it safely is to be a student first, meet a few individuals who have already been practicing it, and take notes from them before attempting it yourself,” concludes Rodrigues.
Takeaways
- Breaking has the potential to redefine fitness regimen that tests the body and mind with dynamic movements, strength, and agility demands.
- Regardless of age or gender, breaking can be tailored to fit a variety of body types, and each person can bring their unique skills, such as intellect or musical taste, to the dance.
- Because breakdancing involves quick bursts of intense energy and dynamic, explosive movements that improve muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness, it is compared to high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
- Due to the very nature of breakdancing, you must give your full attention to the music and movement while dancing, where you enter a flow state.
