Matthew David Parker Looks Into Causes of Weight Gain And How To Maintain a Healthy Weight

Matthew David Parker is a family man, a successful business person and a popular salsa dance instructor. He owns Lafayette Dance Studio in Louisiana where he teaches people how to dance salsa and even become professionals in the dance. He understand how important being fit is to most salsa dancers and knows the reasons why some people tend to gain too much weight. The following are some of the many causes for putting on weight:

Lack of sleep
Studies show that the body functions best when it is well rested. Therefore when you provide your body with sufficient sleep it rejuvenates itself and functions properly. But when you deny your body adequate sleep, it experiences physiological stress. This in turn alters the chemical composition of the body and this forces the body to store excess fat. When exhausted, you tend to consume a lot of food so as to cope with the situation but this instead leads to weight gain. 

Stress and depression
To some people stress makes them gain weight while to others it enables them to shed off some weight. Sadly, the medications usually used to manage stress and depression in most cases lead to weight gain. This means that when you are taking antidepressants you might actually gain some weight in the long run.

Inactive lifestyle
People today have resolved to certain lifestyles that can lead to weight gain for example watching TV and eating a lot of snacks as you watch and blogging. Most people enjoy spending hours watching TV and movies and during these moments a lot of junk food and energy drinks are served. These foods contain high calorie content. Instead of putting these calories into use and convert them into energy, the body converts them into fat when you are inactive. It is here that you are encouraged to even join the salsa dance class. 

Taking certain medications
There are certain drugs that are known to cause weight gain. Some of these drugs include steroids, antipsychotics, drugs for diabetes, antidepressants, heartburn drugs, anti-seizure medications and medications used to treat high blood pressure. All these drugs cause some calming effect to the body which in turn slows down your metabolism rate leading to storage of fats in the body hence weight gain.

 

Hormonal changes and pregnancy in women
Hormonal changes especially in women can cause weight gain in their middle years. During menopause most women experience weight gain simply because during her reproductive years the secretion of estrogens, which is the hormone responsible for ovulation process and menstruation, helped in increasing metabolism. 

Matthew David Parker insists that salsa dance is effective in stabilizing hormonal imbalance in women and is good for people of all ages.

Matthew David Parker’s Tips On How To Be Happier In Life

Being a person who strives to be happy in all spheres of life, Mathew David Parker, a talented salsa dance instructor and owner of Lafayette dance studio in Louisiana, does everything possible to keep himself, his family and the people around him happy. He understands the different challenges that face people in their daily lives and came up with ways on how to be happier in life as can be viewed below:

Be courageous, kind and compassionate
Life is full of challenges and setbacks but the difference is how you tackle these challenges. Courage is very important when addressing certain issues in life. Don't ever be an escapist; always tackle things as they come for you to overcome them. Be kind to others and show compassion to other people. This will give you inner peace and comfort as you continue searching for happiness in life. Help those in need if you have a chance to help, smile to a stranger and always show extra love to people around you.

Believe in yourself, be consistent and dream big
When you believe in yourself there is nothing you cannot do or achieve. Coupled with the courage and ability to take action, you will surely achieve almost everything you wish to have. Always dream big and never think of any impossibility. Staying focused and always working hard to see your dreams come true will help you in becoming happy. Be realistic, set achievable goals, be consistent and see your dreams come true.

Give and help others
Whenever you feel down, depressed or discouraged, go out and give. You can do this by being a volunteer or simply give something to someone. This should not necessarily be material item; you can give advice or give a helping hand in doing something. This will help you understand what real life is all about. It is not all about you but also about others. This will be very helpful especially in issues that concern relationships. People in relationships focus their attention on what they can gain from the other person and not what they can give to the other person. Giving will nature you into becoming someone who does not only expect good things from others but also gives things to others.

Be nicer to yourself
One thing a lot of people forget in life is that whenever you reward yourself for something you have achieved you actually motivate yourself and improve your self-esteem. According to Matthew David Parker, self-esteem is something very important it is the recipe for motivation and working hard in life. Never yield to criticism but instead view the criticism as a challenge. When you fail in achieving something, don't feel discouraged; instead learn from that failure and work hard to avoid such failures in future.

Matthew David Parker - How To Master The Salsa Dance

Salsa dancing, which is loved and thought by many to have originated in Brazil, actually originated fin New York City in the 1970s. It has a strong Latin American influence, it is sensual, lively and very exciting with simple steps that make it easy for people of all ages to perform. Mathew David Parker has for years now been teaching people how to do basic salsa dance moves and enjoy the dance. The following are steps on how to dance salsa:

Master the basics
If you want to learn how to do something, you must be ready to master the basics. These are the first important things that will help you learn and develop new skills. In salsa dancing the basics include having good body posture for the dance, knowing how to move your legs in sync with the leader, knowing how to move your hips and knowing how to count the beat in a salsa song and keeping up with the beats. These are the basics that any person who wants to learn how to salsa dance should know. 

Dance as the follower
To learn how to properly dance salsa you will need an experienced dancer to lead you through the basics. It is not easy for someone to learn this dance on his or her own; you need an experienced partner. As a follower or student, you have to do exactly what your leader tells you or shows you. It is important for you to observe and take note of all the leads your leader shows you and then move instinctively in the direction he or she pushes you. One thing you should do is try and be flexible. Avoid pulling your partner around or be rigid at one place. Follow your partner’s moves and be in line with the salsa dance. 

  

Learn basic turns and new tricks
Salsa is generally playful and it involves basic turns and choreographed moves. Due to its liveliness, this dance can be danced almost anywhere including in the club. Turning in fast paced moves is one trick that makes this dance so enjoyable. With the help of an experienced dancing partner you can learn how to do the underarm turns or the overhead turns. Once you have learned the basic turns and rotations without losing your step, it is time you learned new tricks that will make the dance more exciting. 

For better understanding on how to master the art of dancing salsa, you can check out the Lafayette salsa dance studio, which is owned by Matthew David Parker a renowned salsa dance instructor from Louisiana. With patience and regular practice you will be able to learn how to dance to the salsa beats with ease.    

What you Need to Know About Salsa Styles with Matthew David Parker

You have seen the beautiful sexy dance on TV and would like to try it right away. Yes, salsa is beautiful, sexy and seductive. Matthew David Parker takes you through what you need to know about this passionate dance.
What are the origins of salsa?
Salsa originated from moves in Caribbean dances particularly in Cuba over 100 years ago.

What are the main salsa styles?
There are two main styles of dancing with each style having variations.

• Los Angeles (LA) style – Also known as the in-line style. Couples do their movements while aligned in a straight line. This style is very good for dancing shows.
• Cuban style - Also known as the Casino style. There is no straight line. Rather, dancing couples do movements around each other with hand knots emphasized.

Which style is better?
It is best you learn both styles as you will get dance invites by partners doing the two dances on various occasions.  The Cuban style is more relaxed and casual than the LA style which is more structured to show moves.
Which style is more difficult to learn?
The LA style is more demanding for ladies as they have to learn the “lady style”, and also master fast spins. The Cuban style may look relaxed but mastering making the moves while going round your partner could take more time to master than the straight line LA style.
Are there other salsa styles?
Yes.  Other salsa styles apart from Cuban and LA styles are;

• Rueda - Rueda is wheel in Spanish. Several dancing couples form a circle around a leading dancing couple that sets the pace of the dance
• New York style – Looks like the LA style to the inexperienced eye. The difference is that the first step goes with the second bit of the rhythm instead of the first bit. 
• Colombian salsa – has very fast foot movements in the cha-cha-cha set. It is highly popular in the Colombian city of Cali also known as the Salsa capital

Some dance styles are also associated with Salsa. These include Bachata, Merengue, Kizomba, and cha-cha-cha.

How long does it take to learn?
You can learn the basics within a month or two depending on how regularly you attend dance lessons. Learning the different styles depends on how interested you are in improving your basics. With regular dancing you can be a master dancer within a year.

You can start this exciting journey at Matthew David Parker’s Lafayette dancing studio where he will have you dancing like a pro in no time.

Want to be a Dance Instructor? Learn from Matthew David Parker

Teaching dance as a career or as a hobby is fun and rewarding as you watch your students transform from clumsy self-confident dancers into masters who move, turn and twirl perfectly.  You can become a master salsa dance instructor by learning it from the salsa maestro himself. Matthew David Parker has been teaching salsa dancing at his Lafayette dance studio in Louisiana since 2010. Here is what he recommends for aspiring salsa dance instructors.

Master salsa.
There is much to learn in salsa in footwork and patterns, leading and following, timing and styles.

Get a partner to demonstrate the moves.
Having a partner will help you handle more students. If you are learning salsa so that you can teach others, find a partner who is also enthusiastic about the dance.

Do you want it?
Always reflect on your reasons for teaching salsa. Do you want money, fun, or fame? This can help you focus better on what you need to do and how to do it.

Always refresh your skills.
Keep going back to the dance studio to refresh your skills and pick up new moves from other dance enthusiasts.

Create difference.
After mastering salsa, try improving on the styles to come up with a sub-style or even a new style. You will become a true adept and become dedicated to the dance even more.

Be humble and outgoing.
As a dance instructor, you will handle different kinds of personalities, at a close distance. Learn to handle people patiently and mix with people from different backgrounds.

Don’t forget to have fun.
Dancing is all about fun as Matthew David Parker likes to remind his students every day. Always keep this in mind and you will love doing what you do daily.  

Salsa Dance - Have Fun and Lose Weight Dancing with Matthew David Parker

Dancing has long been known as a way of keeping fit. Salsa dancing is the most exciting dance style and you can have a lot of fun while cutting down on those pounds. Matthew David Parker is one of the foremost salsa dance instructors in the US. His studio is based in Lafayette, Louisiana where he encourages dance lovers to come learn new dancing styles and enjoy the added health benefits.

Workout movements
Salsa movements involve weight changing, tapping and small kicks. The movements involve the lower body depending largely on the hip flexor and gluteal muscles for execution. These movements must be accomplished while the upper weight remains level which improves core movement and conditioning. The legs get a workout as the dancer moves forward, backwards and turn, providing well balanced muscle development.

Major muscles workout
Salsa dancing will work out all the major muscle groups in the body burning more calories. The core, heart, quadriceps, gluteal, hip flexor muscles and hamstrings will get involved in the different movements of the dance. 

Accelerated health benefits

• Calorie Burn - The average person weighing 150 pounds can expect to burn 175-250 calories in 30 minutes of dancing. 
• Muscle development – Muscles become more developed from constant work. You will develop more muscle mass instead of fat. 
• Cardio endurance – Cardiovascular endurance means that your heart and lungs can do more for longer. 
• Emotional balance – Dancing workout releases dopamine, a feel good hormone which will give you a natural high. 
• Better sex appeal – Overall body image and the ability to execute dance moves will generally improve your sex appeal.

Dancing lessons Matthew David Parker are your way of improving your health while learning something fun.

Mathew David Parker on the Best Salsa Dancing Shoes

Salsa dancing involves a lot of feet movement at a fairly fast pace. For the best dancing experience  during dance, you have to choose an appropriate shoe that is stable and comfortable. Matthew David Parker is a salsa instructor in Lafayette, Louisiana. He knows how important the appropriate shoes are in dance classes and in other dance events. His tips on choosing the perfect salsa dancing shoes are;
Fitting shoes
Always ensure your shoes fit snugly like a glove, without any pressure. Always try walking around for about 30 minutes in your new shoes before going dancing in them. Dancing is more strenuous than walking so ensure they are comfortable even when you walk briskly.

Heel height
For those perfect turns, you have to be stable. If you are not accustomed to high heels do not wear a new pair on the day of a dancing event. Begin with a lower heel with a maximum of 1.5 inches for the ladies. For men, 1 inch heel  height is appropriate. 

Heel thickness
Heel thickness determines the way weight is distributed on the foot. Thin heels push more weight towards the front of the foot which is less balanced.  Flared heels combine height and more width to give better balance than stiletto heels.

Closed vs. open toe
Salsa dance movements require pointing the toes to articulate feet movement. Open toed shoes are better as they allow for better toe pointing. However, experienced dancers can choose closed toes which lower the risk of being hurt when the foot is accidentally stepped on in an accident.

Sole material
A shoe should allow for the right slip and traction to make execution of moves like turns better. A suede sole is perfect as it allows for slip which gives more control when turning. If it gets too smooth it can be brush wired to have some roughness.

Shoe straps
Shoe straps should allow for securing the shoe firmly to the foot and allow for more breathing of the foot for comfort. A double X strap is the best as it secures the shoe around the ankle and the foot, feeling just like a lace up shoe.

Shop or online buy
Always try your shoe before buying. This is better done at a physical shop than an online shop. However, if you see something impressive online, pick it up if they have favorable return policy.

Matthew David Parker reckons the shoe you wear can determine whether your salsa night out is fun or horrible. Be careful with your salsa dancing shoe choice.