More and more research shows the benefits of dancing for mental and physical health. In addition to being fun, dancing has several benefits for brain health, cardiovascular well-being, and psychological well-being. Here are seven ways dancing can improve the mind and body.
1. Rewiring your brain
Dance is an immersive experience involving all your senses. It’s a great way to improve neuroplasticity between the cerebral hemispheres of the brain to create neural connections. Your cerebral cortex coordinates movement, problem solving, learning, thinking, memory, and reasoning.
When you follow a choreography, your brain is needed to coordinate the movements of your body and remember the movements. Even in freestyle dancing, you practice the art of making instant decisions every time you think about the next move or which direction to go. Every time you dance, you maintain brain health and increase your long-term memory.
2. Improves core strength
Bending to tie your shoelaces, sitting at a desk, standing on a train, or picking up a package are all daily activities that require good core strength. Dancing helps you build the core strength necessary for balance, coordination, and stability in your body. A strong core will also help you avoid being that one of 10 million people injured in a slip accident every year.
3. Helps maintain overall fitness
Dancing is the only workout that involves every part of your body. You rotate your torso, move your arms around and use the muscles in your legs to turn or move to the beat of the music. Whether you choose to attend a Zumba class or dance alone in your room, vigorous physical movement improves cardiovascular fitness.
4. Reduces tension in your body
Dancing helps relieve tension in your body and mind through movement. When you feel stiffness in your neck and shoulderscould it be related to stress or emotional strain.
Taking just 15 minutes to play music and dance can clear your mind and release any stiffness in your body. You are also more aware and connected to your body, so you recognize when you need rest or care.
5. Prevents and reduces pain
In many cultures and traditions, dance is a healing activity that offers hope for the 20% of the people who experience chronic pain. Research shows that people who dance regularly – 60 to 150 minutes a week – see reduced pain and improved mood. Divide that number by seven and you’ll get a 10-minute disco party that will significantly aid pain management.
6. Improves psychological well-being
Dancing can help reduce anxiety symptoms, increases self-esteem and reduces the symptoms of depression. It’s more than just the release of endorphins. There is more and more research showing the possibilities of movement as a way release emotions related to trauma stored in the body.
Dance can provide you with a way to process and release feelings such as fear, sadness, and anger. Movements like shaking send signals to the part of your brain that holds emotions. This disables your fight-or-flight response and tells your body that you are safe.
7. Connect with other people
One of the main reasons dance helps with mental and emotional well-being is because it builds social connection. That’s why dancing at parties and concerts gives emotional satisfaction: when you dance with others, you share a positive experience. It’s part of forming connections with your community and building supportive and stable relationships.
Promote physical fitness and mental well-being with dancing
Dance is an excellent workout because it is an immersive experience that involves most parts of your body and mind. With all these benefits, one good song and ten minutes to let go can be your way to improving your overall well-being.
