Dance Benefits

Have you ever felt a little down at times, so you decided to put on your favorite song and move with that music? How did you feel following your “dance encounter”? Did you feel somewhat better? Well, there have been plenty of research to support the fact that dance has great benefits not only for your physical body but for your mind as well.

Dance is known to be one of the best forms of exercise and there are many cultures in the non-western world that promote and encourage dance in their daily lives for staying fit, stress free and happy. In addition, dance which includes stretching and cardio is considered by many to be most acceptable exercise for all age groups; young and old alike. Everyone has the ability to dance, it just takes confidence in your ability and when it relates to your health, your preoccupation with having the “right” moves should be of no concern.

The benefits of dance towards your health should be noted as well as celebrated. Following a good dance session, the body releases a large amount of endorphins. It has been found that “endorphins give you a certain ‘high’, almost 56 per cent higher than marijuana, with anti-ageing factors, which reduce the occurrence of wrinkles to almost 63 per cent”. Salla, Prerna (2004,06,30). Dance, the eternal stress reliever. Retrieved February 18, 2007, from buzzle.com Web site: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-30-2004-56070.asp Dance is great for the skin, giving it a natural glow which can not be replicated by store moisturizers. In addition, dance paired with your favorite tune often increases the euphoric experience as you tend to smile more than you ordinarily would.

In London, I ran a stress-buster course which utilized Afro-Latin rhythms for relaxation. The course was a success being that I introduced a particular rhythm which other wise would not have been associated as a relaxant but more of a stimulant. Each participant was asked to state something which had been causing them stress and then rate that experience on a scale of 1 to 10 for example. They were guided through the dance experience by my voice and percussion and then encouraged to let each movement represent a release. Following the movement portion of the class, the students were asked to rate their stress level, and to their surprise, their level had decreased by remarkable numbers.

Dancing can be a great if not almost an exuberating sexual experience (of course this depends on how much you love to dance) which can be performed in the privacy of your own home at any time. You can create the moves without trepidation and fear; it is really all up to you. Just relax and enjoy the “ride”. In actuality, dancing of any sort is a great way to begin an active lifestyle and have fun in the process. Dancing is a superb outlet for a mundane everyday life.

Short Relaxation Activity

1. Take deep slow breaths (inhale/exhale)
Place complete concentration on your breathing and the moment.

2. Slow mental counts from 1 - 10
Continue to concentrate on your breathing as you take slow deep breaths in and out. Each breath (inhale/exhale) represents a count/number.

3. Find your safe place
Continue your breaths and find a place which is a place of relaxation and safety for you.

4. Think opposite (Contrast your negative thoughts)
Only concentrate on the things that you would like to be or feel. For example, if you are stressed, tell yourself that you are relaxed.

5. Returning
Once you have completed steps 1 – 4, it is time for you to return. Follow the same steps………

a) Tell yourself that you will feel (relaxed)

b) Tell yourself that you can always return to your safe place

c) Begin to count backwards from 10 – 1 very slowly with each breath coinciding with each number

d) Finish with your deep breaths (inhale/exhale)