4 Psychological Benefits Of Dancing
Did you know that there are psychological benefits to dancing? Have you tried everything that dance has to offer? This article will explain four psychological benefits of dancing and give you four strong reasons to start moving your feet, mind and body to the music.
Dance is a universal language. Two or more people can connect and communicate with only the movement of their bodies and the desire to move to the rhythm of the music. Music gives us a chance to meet new people and express ourselves without uttering a single word.
Read on to learn more about the psychological benefits of dancing.
When we let our bodies flow with the music, we also let our mind work freely. We do not need language, all we need is to feel and express ourselves physically. The doors to spontaneity and creativity are opening and new paths await us. We find new answers to our problems and our minds travel along new paths.
Peter Lovatt – Head of the Dance Psychology Laboratory at the University of Hertfordshire – conducted a study that confirmed that dance helps the brain find new ways of thinking and creates new nerve connections.
Dancing allows us to connect with our innermost selves. Through dance we can express emotions that we might not otherwise have been aware of. It frees us from the burdens we carry. It gives us the chance to get to know ourselves through another language.
However, dance does not only allow us to connect with ourselves; dance also has a social aspect that gives us the chance to get to know others. Dance unites people of all ages and gives people from all over the world a common language.
Above all, it brings together people with different tastes and personalities, all united by the music and the rhythm.
When you dance, the mind is free to forget all your problems and focus on the movements. Dancing also releases dopamine and serotonin – chemicals that reduce stress and increase feelings of happiness. Many studies support the hypothesis that dancing can relieve physical pain, such as headaches and back pain. It can even reduce the symptoms of depression.
Dancing allows us to unite body, mind and spirit, which improves the bonds and strengthens self-esteem. It also generates more self-confidence and trust in others if exercised with partners. By letting go of the inhibitions and letting our creativity rule on the dance floor, we can open doors within ourselves that allow us to love ourselves a little more.
A study conducted by M. Joe Verghese (2003) demonstrated that dance promotes neural synapses, which slows down the loss of volume in the hippocampus that occurs naturally due to aging. It helps protect the brain in the long run.
This researcher also discovered in his other studies that dance stimulates the central nervous system and brain activity.
Now you know some psychological benefits of dancing; it is a way to protect the brain from the ravages of time. Think of dance as a chance to be creative. Let go of your feet, for music and dance make your heart beat.
