Salsa City Forum » News and Chat » Is Sweating So Bad?

Hi, I’ve just been reading some old posts and one comment that really did shock me was that of Hugh’s saying sweating is bad for u and people should be reasonably fit before starting salsa. To be honest, I think that’s a load of old codswollop!

I’m a young female in my early twenties and an extremely fit one at that but I sweat like crazy... Apologies to the men I dance with as the evening goes on as I really am a bit minging but I think in a good way. Its all part of the fun of dancing! When ur on holiday and its hot everyone sweats and its all good.

Don’t u think its kinda sexy Hugh?? Call me crazy (but providing the other person doesn’t actually smell really bad) I think it adds to the sensuality of dancing with a guy when ur both hot and sweaty... It’s salsa... It’s hot!

Anyway, just my opinion.

Visible sweat is a sign that your body is under stress and I just meant that we should listen to our bodies and pace ourselves. Being very fit means you can be tempted to push your body further than you really should. Salsa, to me, should have a bit of an effortless quality to it. Too much sweat spoils the effect.

Of course a bit of dampness is OK, but I’m not keen on dancing with women who are really wet (all over).

About fitness: I said that going to salsa once a week was not enough to get or keep you fit and it was a good ideas to do some other exercise as well. Other respondents in that thread said that if you get out of breath you can sit down, which is of course right and proper. My advice was for people who want to dance more and sit down less.

Here’s an interesting page about exercise in hot conditions, it’s mainly for runners but is highly relevant to dancers too:
Runnning in the Heat; Respect Your Body, Respect the Heat

Here are a couple of pages that mention the reduced effectiveness of persperation when it becomes dripping sweat:
Olympic Ways To Stay Cool This Summer
Preventing Heat Stress in Agriculture

One more about working in hot environments.

And finally first-aid if you overheat:
Heat Production, Heat Illnesses, and First Aid

Aah, passionate salsera, I think I’ve now worked out who you are!

You might sweat a bit but I wouldn’t describe you as minging...

Yes Hugh you are right that we should listen to our bodies and not push it too far but all in all I think we all sweat... It’s natural and I actually think that u can improve on ur fitness even by going just once a week... 30 mins of cardio work is all it takes.

So TB... Ru gonna enlighten me as to who u are?? But thanks for saying I’m not minging... And when I say I’m extremely fit I mean in terms of blood pressure, heart rate etc, not looks or that I have an impressive six pack or something!

Next time I see you (assuming you are who I think you are) I’ll introduce myself.

Ok but give me a clue as to where it might be? The Wharf, Cuba or The Toad?? I’m on hols at the mo so won’t be around for a while...

I never go to Cuba, occasionally go to the Wharf, go to The Toad frequently (though I missed a couple of weeks recently).

Clue here

I’m intrigued now. So it would be The Toad that you recognise me from. Also, from your clue, it was actually your website that made me go to The Toad in the first place... I only moved here a few months ago and the info was really useful!!!

Man I haven’t been to salsa for a couple weeks now... Been too busy with modern jive... I think I will pop down to the Lambada class tonight. PS the sweat thing. Surely sweat is just natures way of keeping you cool? Isn’t it when you start to get tired you shouldn’t overdo it? I’m sweating a little now and all I’m doing is typing.

Is anyone else going to that tonight (27th/06/2005)

Passionate salsera, I thought I recognised you from the Wharf, but I’ve got a feeling that I’ve confused you with someone sweatier. (I was there the night that made you complain about the standard of men in the intermediate class - I hoped you didn’t mean me!)