How to Dance for Relaxation?
“When I dance, I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.” Hans Bos
The effects of dancing are multi-faceted, along with the physiological effects, there are many psychological effects resulting from dance. First of all there is the sense of well being associated with any form of regular exercise. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, nor-epinephrine, and endorphins are produced during exercise, increasing physical feelings of wellbeing, which in turn translate into emotional and mental wellbeing, as well as a reduction in tension.
Multiple Benefits of Dancing
Dancing has cardiovascular effects, helping to increase health and decrease blood pressure, as well as improving fitness levels and helping to reduce obesity. This increased level of healthiness often increases a sense of well being and the reduction in risk factors may help alleviate anxiety and stress about future ill health.
Social interaction resulting from dancing also helps to combat depression, and the non-verbal expression of feelings that is possible in dancing may also help people resolve underlying psychological problems.
Dancing also helps in improved co-ordination and concentration levels, all helping to combat stress.
Common Forms of Dancing
Ballroom Dancing
The importance of engaging in a regular program of ballroom dancing cannot be undermined. The need to learn and remember numerous dance movements produces a constant and very beneficial challenge to the brain. The social aspects of ballroom dancing, the relaxation it produces, and the joy of dancing also is involved in ballroom dancing. The sense of accomplishment and confidence acquired by successfully completing a dance with a partner are beneficial, as well.
Fitness, both mental and physical, often begins with one’s state of mind. Mental acuity comes from mental exercise and if one is ballroom dancing, she is not sitting at home watching TV or feeling sorry for herself. Among mind-stimulating activities ballroom dancing is unique in that it also provides beneficial physical exercise.
The ROM Dance
The ROM Dance, or the Range-Of-Motion exercises, is a gentle mind/body exercise and relaxation program designed especially to help keep the joints flexible. The ROM Dance incorporates these movements with basic mind/body principles from tai chi, and is accompanied by quiet music and a verse that evokes light, warmth and well being.
The goals of ROM Dance are to increase frequency, enjoyment, and perceived benefit of involvement in daily exercise and rest, enhance the ability to cope with stress and pain through use of relaxation techniques, improve body awareness, and promote an experience of well being.
Belly Dancing
The heart of belly dance is rarely over-the-top, fast, and furious. It actually involves soft and subtle movements, sensitive to nuances in the music, and which gently fall into each beat without rushing. The belly dance allows the dancer to savor the movement and music, transcending time.
Though there are many dimensions to belly dance, relaxation is key to experiencing its essence. In the physical dimension of dancing there are two sides of every movement: activity and relaxation. Relaxation helps in channeling one’s energies efficiently. Releasing non-active parts of the body and mind, frees the attention to fully focus on the movement at hand. Belly dance can give one the experience being fully present in one’s body.