A Holistic Shortcut to Improved Wellbeing!

What does wellbeing mean to you and what steps do you take to actively improve it? Wellbeing is a multidimensional concept in which all pillars rely on each other to thrive and flourish. If one area of wellbeing is thriving it is going to have a positive effect on the other areas. If it is lacking, this will have an opposite effect. Although there are many different models of wellbeing out there, the main pillars identified here are physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing. Take a moment to consider how you foster these four aspects of your wellbeing. Are there areas that you focus on more than others? Are there any areas that you could give more attention? What if I told you there is one act of self-love you could do that would foster all of these dimensions of health. Dance.

Archaeological evidence suggests music and dancing were significant in our ancestors lives as the modern human brain was developing. This suggests it may be a core function of the human brain, innately engrained within us. The fact dance has been around since the beginning of human history, may give us a clue into why the benefits of dance are so vast and cover multiple dimensions of wellbeing.

Physical Benefits

Let’s start with the obvious; physical benefits. First and foremost, dancing improves cardiovascular function, leading to a strong and healthy heart which in turn not only prevents or delays heart problems but also significantly reduces the development of chronic disease. Balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, endurance and strength are also just some of the many physical benefits dance can provide. The best part about it is it often doesn’t even feel like your exercising as your mind is so focused on what movement to do and because it is so much fun!

Cognitive/ Mental Health Benefits

Some benefits from a cognitive and mental health perspective can be seen as secondary to the physical benefits. If you’re feeling better physically, that in turn is going to automatically improve mood and boost energy. Although, dancing provides a vast range of primary benefits to our mental and cognitive health too including improvements in cognition and self-confidence and reductions in stress and anxiety.

Cognition

Dancing engages many different parts of the brain as a combination of cognitive functions such as vision, rhythm, balance, coordination and memory are required. As the brain is adaptable with experience, dancing rewires neural pathways and over time enhances all of these cognitive abilities and more. If you want to keep your brain healthy and in tip top shape, memorising a dance routine will make a significant positive impact and you’ll find your mind feeling sharper in no time!

Self confidence

Working with children and youth for a number of years, I have witnessed an overall lack of confidence and self- esteem in far too many young people. Reasons for this can boil down to a number of things, from media influence to covid lockdowns, but the question is how do we bring our children (and ourselves) out of their shells, build upon confidence and provide a sense of empowerment? First of all, learning a new skill and mastering it naturally will boost self-esteem and give a sense of accomplishment. In doing so, will provide confidence to learn harder choreography and even perform it which adds another element to providing that confidence boost. Importantly, we can’t underestimate the impact positive praise and reinforcement has on people. Having a supportive teacher makes all the difference. Having a teacher who reinforces positive achievement can play a significant role in increasing confidence levels.

Stress and Anxiety Reduction

The last few years in particular has seen unprecedented times and has threatened wellbeing on a global scale, with significant psychological impact. There’s no doubt about it, the stress levels among people and even children have been noticeable. Therefore, the importance of addressing and actively trying to reduce and manage stress during these times are vital for both mental and physical health. By releasing “happy hormones” called endorphins, dancing floods our bodies with these chemicals making us feel happy, calm and optimistic and ultimately providing us with a tool to reduce stress and anxiety. Dance also provides us with stress relief through mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness is scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety and even feelings of depression. Due to the constant concentration on movements, dance is an excellent form of mindfulness as this prevents focusing on any worries you may be having – ultimately giving your brain a break from the worries and stress of the world. If you are someone that doesn’t like to sit still, dancing may be a great alternative to get all those meditative benefits!

Social Benefits

Let’s not forget the emotional benefits we get from the social aspects of dance! Being around friends and like-minded people improves over all wellbeing, boosts mood and also reduces stress. Although dancing while no one’s watching has benefits in itself, dancing with others adds that extra element of fun. Whether it’s in a studio, at a club or at home, dancing is a fantastic way to connect and bond with others by reinforcing old connections or making new ones.

Spiritual Benefits

Dance has always been with us. From the earliest moments of known human history, dancing has been at the center of ancient rituals, gatherings and social events, with the earliest documented evidence of dance dating back 9000 years to Indian cave paintings. As a form of communication and expression, dancing was used to convey feelings and stories in our ancestors. This concept continues on today. Dance gives us the ability to lose our inhibitions and feel the rhythm of the music within our bodies. It provides us with a creative outlet where we can express ourselves, whether it’s freestyle dancing in the kitchen to your favourite song, dancing with friends in a club or learning choreography in a studio, dancing ultimately offers a sense of freedom that is good for the soul and provides a liberating experience.

Take another moment to reflect. What areas of your life could do with some improvement. Maybe its energy, focus, connection or maybe you just need a bit more joy in your day to day. How can you add dance into your life to make YOU feel better and contribute to taking steps to live life to your fullest potential? Dance is human nature after all – take advantage of it!

 by Tori Shaffett