The great feeling we experience out on the dance floor has a scientific explanation behind it. Dance is more than moving to music, it’s the manifestation of self’s deepest passions and an escape to our own nirvana.
“The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.” – Amit Kalantri
What do weddings, parties, other celebratory occasions and now even funerals have in common? It’s dancing. Dance is the most rhythmic, gracious way of expressing emotion. A beautiful series of movements knitted together to match harmoniously with music; dance touches the soul of the performer as well as the audience. Numerous cultures have developed their own dance form that depicts its customs and traditions in a unique way.
When we move, we feel good. Grooving to the beats of music has many benefits on our physical well – being. It improves balance, flexibility, cardiovascular health and increases strength.Dance also leads to body awareness such as maintaining proper posture, thus preventing injuries and long term ailments. Apart from the benefits of movement and music, the most vital impact of dancing is on mental health. A growing number of researchers have proven that while dancing, an abundance of mood-improving chemicals is released within the body of the dancer. This happiness does not end as you stop dancing, rather can continue for more thana week. For those who find it difficult to express their feelings, dance offers an alternative mode to creatively express their mind. Therapists also prescribe dance to patients suffering from social anxiety and/or a fear of public speaking as dance allows people to ditch self-consciousness. According to a study conducted by the University of Oxford, dancing alongside other dancers “lights up brain pathways,” which break down the hesitation we usually face in interacting with people. Establishing these connections helps one experience a sense of oneness and unity.Dance as a therapy is particularly recommended for depression reduction.
Dance is the perfect combination of physical exertion and creativity. But the most incredible aspect of dancing, which makes it especially beneficial for mental health issues is its inclusivity. Anyone can participate, whether a teenager or a senior adult and move in whatever way music takes him/her. This makes it popular even among people who usually shy away from other kinds of exercises.
Currently, all of us are fighting difficult and testing times that have negatively affected our psychological well – being. Stress and boredom are peaking and the lockdown seems to have put a stop on all our pizzazz as well. But on the other hand, it is offering us a ‘me’ time to reset, rejuvenate and refocus. And, dance can prove to be our liberator. So, jump out of the couch, put on the song which makes you sway or shimmy and just dance, with/without a partner because ‘jab tak tumhare pair chalenge tumhara mood accha rahega, tumhare pair ruke toh yeh stress badega (as long as your feet move, you will be in a good mood, if your feet stop moving, stress will increase).’
Feature Image Credits: Dreamstime
IpshikaGhosh
