This article is written by Kristin Herman.
If you’re suffering from chronic health problems, you might not have considered dance as a way to get ahead of these issues. In truth, dancing can do much more than just keep you active, when it can also give you psychological benefits.
While the neuroscience of dance is relatively new in the field of research, there’s no denying that in recent months that a variety of studies, as well as an article-based dissertation on the neuroscience of dance, are being published and brought more into light. With their amazing findings, we can have a better understanding of why we dance, and how dancing can change the human brain for the better.
With that said, here are 6 ways that dancing can benefit you psychologically.
1. Creative development
Since music allows you to flow with it, the mind can work freely without having to stress about anything and is even suitable for any fitness level. Since dance doesn’t require a language, all you need is to feel and express yourself physically, no matter your skillset.
So, if you’re looking to be more spontaneous and creative in your life, then look to dance. From learning dance patterns to interacting with the music, dancing can enhance creativity, which helps the brain find new ways of thinking and establish new neural circuits.
2. Improves self-esteem
We all want to feel better about ourselves; and self-esteem helps us to do this. So, what better way to improve self-esteem than to dance.
No matter your fitness skill, dance can help you unite the body, mind and spirit, thus improving connection and strengthening self-esteem. It also helps you gain more self-confidence and trust in others, especially when you practice with dance partners. To this way, you can love yourself a little bit more.
3. Improves state of being
Want a better state of being? Then look to dancing!
When you dance, you can forget about all your problems for a while, as you focus on movement. In fact, dancing is known to release good levels of dopamine and serotonin to help you reduce stress, while increasing feelings of happiness. In addition, dancing can alleviate physical pain (i.e. headaches, backaches, etc.), and even reduce some symptoms of depression.
4. Slows your brain’s aging
Ever feel that your brain is growing older than you? That’s understandable. However, you don’t have to have your brain age for much longer.
According to a 2003 study conducted by M. Joe Verghese, dance favors neural synapses, which slows the loss of volume in the hippocampus that happens naturally as a part of aging. In addition, it helps protect the brain from further aging, and can stimulate the central nervous system and brain activity.
5. Better connection
Since dancing is a universal language, it’s no wonder that two or more people can connect and communicate with nothing more than their moving bodies and their desire to move to the rhythm of the music. Music allows us to be more social without even having to speak a word.
Plus, dancing allows you to connect to your innermost self, letting you express emotions that you might not even be aware of – releasing the unneeded weight, and reintroducing yourself in a different language.
In short, dance is what brings people together.
6. Collaboration and cooperation
Besides allowing you to connect with people, you can also connect with humanity through both collaboration and cooperation.
Some dances require that you collaborate with one or more people to do a routine, much like orchestras operate when playing music. And much like sports, dancing involves the whole body.
Though, for there to be collaboration, there has to cooperation. During cooperation, the brains of two or more people become attuned to the same frequency, thus becoming more synchronized, which promotes both harmonic music and movement. This ability to become attuned to another person’s brain frequency is essential, since it helps promote empathy towards others.
Conclusion
So, now that you know how dancing can improve your health through psychological means, why not get started today in freeing the mind and enjoying the music? Unleash the power of creativity and harmony by getting to the dance floor or a dance studio and letting all your worries melt away!
Author bio: Kristin Herman is a writer and editor at Bigassignments.com and Oxessays.com. She is also a contributing writer for numerous online magazine and blogs, such as Bestaustralianwriters.com. As a tech enthusiast, she writes about the latest trends in technology. And, as a project manager, she oversees many writing projects throughout the country.
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