How Does Dancing Help Your Physical And Mental Well-Being?

Most of us have our own different relationships with dance. While some people prefer to take formal training in dance, others prefer to shake a leg with friends and family, and a few do not dance at all. Whatever form or style of dancing you may prefer, dancing offers a range of physical and mental benefits. A large number of people take to dancing for the fitness it promises. Also, very importantly, dance is a creative art form that facilitates the expression of thoughts and feelings. Have you ever seen anyone in your family or friends suddenly bursting into a dance the moment they hear happy news?

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Dance As A Crucial Aspect Of Culture

Dance and free body movement have a historical foundation in healing and expression. As an infant or a child, gestures, actions, movements, and postures are our primary means of expressing and communicating our needs and desires. As an adult, these continue to function as culturally-oriented ways of interacting with people across the globe. In earlier times, dance performances were a crucial aspect of celebrations, community bonding, interactions, interventions, and a way to disseminate information among the masses. Dance has always been an inevitable part of most societies. For centuries, people, cultures, and communities have recognised the therapeutic, transforming, and releasing powers of dance.

Dance For Physical Health

Dance, as a creative physical activity and an art form, is a boon to physical fitness, brain functioning, and mental well-being. It is often a good way to take a break from daily stressors, which may be academics, work, or something else in our external environment. It engages the body physically, and requires attending to the here and now. Therefore, it helps to disengage from worrisome and negative thoughts. The physical gains of dancing are widely understood and studied. These include increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone, improvement in balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health. In comparison, the benefits of dancing to our mental health are not extensively discussed or may not be so readily apparent. Still, they are many profound and scientifically supported mental health benefits of dance, that we shall be discussing further in this piece.

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Dance Accelerates Brain Functioning

Experimenting with new ways of physical exercise, dancing, and being in space with others is inherently therapeutic. Such experiences can affect how an individual functions in their life. Dancing stimulates nerve growth in the brain, leading to many positive effects. Studies have shown that engaging in dance and physical movement activities can accelerate the brain's ability to form new neural connections. These connections help us in adapting to recurrent changes in life. Dancing also improves cognitive skills and boosts memory. Engaging in dance routines or physical regimens involves learning. In this process, people strengthen their concentration, practice sequencing, and exercise memory centres of the brain.

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Dance Fosters Self-Esteem

Dance can help in increasing self-esteem and boosting confidence by fostering self-expression and social engagement. It provides a platform for social learning, enjoyment, and community involvement. It can facilitate people to interact with each other and experience a sense of connection, by allowing them to move and be in the same space. Experience of success in creating new relationships with others can strengthen bonds, which can, in turn, help boost confidence and reduce social anxiety.

Dancing Is A Natural Form Of Self-Expression That Builds Confidence And Self-Esteem

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Dance Lifts Mood And Beats Stress

Music and movements are the key elements of dancing and are also known to help improve a person's mood. Often, when people are stressed or feeling low, they play music and dance to unwind and relax. Dancing and music can help tolerate stress and regulate oneself, leading to gradual upliftment of mood. Research has also found that physical exercise or engaging in dance leads the body to experience ‘feeling-good’ endorphins, and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.

Dance Reduces Anxiety, Depression

Physical exercises and movement require active body engagement, which can help an individual focus on the present. Such activities help in breaking out of the repetitive negative thoughts and worries that often underlie anxiety. Depression is a disabling mental condition that can cause prolonged sadness, loss of motivation, and difficulty managing emotions. It is an illness that is increasing among young adults in current times. Verbalising thoughts and feelings may not be not easy for someone experiencing the symptoms of depression. In contrast, dance and movement can be a more accessible medium of expression. The therapeutic use of dance can be an effective treatment to alleviate the symptoms of depression.

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Dance In Therapy

Dance in therapy, called Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP), is a therapeutic method that uses body movement and creative expression. It improves a person's motor, psychological, and emotional functioning. DMP is based on the principle that mind, body, and spirit are interconnected. It focuses on helping people use dance and free movement to express themselves and communicate their emotions instead of using words exclusively. Dance therapy has been found to positively support the treatment of various mental health problems, and children's growth and holistic development.

Hence, dance, something that is such a usual part of our everyday lives, has an array of benefits to offer to people who engage in it. So, it would be advisable for everyone to spare some time out everyday, play their favourite music, loosen up their inhibitions, and shake a leg like nobody is watching!

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Rashi Trehan is a mental health professional with specialisation in Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) and Counselling. She is a professional member of the Indian Association of Dance Movement Therapy’s (IADMT) , and is trained and certified in Mental Health First Aid, by MHFA England. She holds six years of hands-on experience in the field, backed by employments in India and the UK.