If you do one thing this month...Find your rhythm

Take up swing, hip-hop, or disco-and boogie your way to a healthier heart.

Put on your favorite tunes and move- you can't help but smile. "It's hard to feel stressed, sad, or angry when you're dancing," says Mark Liponis, M.D., author of UltraLongevity: The Seven-Step Program for a Younger, Healthier You. "Moving to a rhythm combines the benefits of exercise and meditation-toning your muscles, reducing anxiety, and improving your mood-both of which have been shown to increase immunity." Dancing also raises your heart rate, so every step helps strengthen your ticker. One study showed that people who did exercise that followed a rhythmic pattern lowered their levels of CRP (a protein in the blood that may raise the risk of heart disease) more than those who walked or jogged. The effect was so significant, dance classes are now a part of some cardiac-rehabilitation programs. To improve your health without hitting the nightclub: Do step aerobics at your gym, walk to the beat of a favorite song, or grab a partner and take dance lessons (social contact also helps boost immunity). Moving for an hour two or three times a week will maximize the benefits. But even the occasional sashay around your living room will do your heart-and the rest of your body-good.