By dancing, we can increase positive effects to our physical and mental health, which can promote a healthier state of well-being. Aktos and Ogce coined dance as "the most fundamental human behavior and art forms, involving direct expression through the body" (2005, pg.408) because it enhances self-expressiveness. Some therapists believed that emotional and mental problems are often held in our bodies, as forms of muscle tension and self-conscious movements (Aktos & Ogce, 2005). As a way of testing this, some therapists incorporated dance therapy in their stress management practices. They noticed significant outcomes such as stress management, a reduction in stress levels, and a better quality of life (QOL), deeming dance, a treatment modality (Brauninger, 2014).

Dancing was considered a useful way to get in touch with the "conscious and unconscious components of their psyche by using movement" (Aktos & Ogce, 2005, pg. 409). A person can’t develop self-awareness without first, being mindful. Jon Kabat-Zinn stated that “Mindfulness is the key to self-awareness,” in his mission statement, during the launch of his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program (Kabat-Zinn, 2017, pg.1).

Dance movement is often praised for the benefits that it provides through body conditioning. Many people use dance to increase their flexibility, muscle strength, balance, and coordination, and stabilize their breathing. The physical movements that are used during a dance routine can often enhance the functioning of bodily systems, which generate a healthier circulation for the body. Considering dance as an exercise, individuals develop a positive body image, self-esteem, reduces chronic pain, stress, body tension, and depression (Aktos & Ogce, 2005).

Dancing can improve the brain functioning of individual's that suffer from dizziness and memory loss, by guiding the brain to prevent these issues from surfacing. When the brain is healthy functioning, the following occurs, positive behavioral changes, steady breathing, and proper circulations in blood vessels and veins (Philadelphia Integrated Medicine, 2018). To establish balance and coordination during a dance routine, Dart-Harris (2015) provides the beneficial functions of the mentioned bodily systems: which I recorded in the table below:

Dancing Mindfulness

Creatively Blogging
2 min read

When a person is mindful, they are being nonjudgmental and attentive to their self and what's happening around them. Developing mindfulness can promote a healthy state of well-being, sustain growth, and reconnects a person's mind, body, and soul. It allows us to identify and accept our thoughts and emotions for what they are without further proof or explanations. Understanding that thoughts and emotions just are, we can alter the relationships we have with them, by not chasing after them, taking a step back, and relaxing "in a space of awareness" (Powietrzynska, 2014, pg.98).

Some of our thoughts and emotions come from previously lived experiences, which have exasperated or soothed our emotional reactions to different situations. Being mindful can impact the way a person labels his or her emotions, experiences of emotions, level of positive and negative emotions experienced (Heppner, Spears, Vidrine, &Wetter, 2015). The connection between emotions and conduct makes up a big part of mindfulness, as it can support a person with recognizing emotions as they are, naming them, and letting them go (Powietrzynska, 2014). Since emotions are changeable, it is important that we identify, accept, and separate them from the body. Mindfulness can improve the way we manage, discouraging affective states and improves “the way we respond (emotionally) to external stimuli” (Heppner, Spears, Vidrine, & Wetter, 2015, pg.109).

Dance is considered a mindful practice, which has the potential to offer affect regulation (Tobin, 2015), by increasing positive emotions and improving the way we control the negative ones. As a dancer, I've become aware of my body and the moves that I make with it. Before dancing, I normally chose the songs at random. I started using this method to break myself out of a bad habit that I once had. If I was in a bad mood, going through a breakup or frustrated with my workday, I would choose songs that related to those topics. Eventually, I realized that it wasn't helping me, in fact, it exacerbated the situation. I was unconsciously increasing my negative emotional reactions by listening to music that brought me back to those painful times, rather than letting them go.

From there are on, I choose the songs randomly, to dance and express myself naturally. Ordinarily, I don' think about the moves I make as I dance unless I am creating a routine for class. Instead, I move instantaneously as it reflects the way my body is feeling at that moment. When I am in a negative or stressful emotional state, my dance moves are tight, dark, and closer to the floor. After dancing and releasing all the tension, my body is left refreshed and ready to dance to another song. Following that, I would choose songs that are upbeat and has more cheerful lyrics. In turn, I would dance freely, bigger, and involve more upper body movements.

Dancing It is a creative approach to mindfulness meditation that uses dance as the vehicle for interacting. Mindfulness is a holistic wellness practice. Breath, music, body, story, mind, spirit, and fusion are the seven main elements of mindfulness that are in motion when dancing.

You're Going to Be OK

Creatively Blogging
2 min read

Even though you don't believe it, you will, I'm sure of it. Sincerely, I say this because you never know who might need some encouraging words—let's face it, we all could use it. I'm here to remind you that even if things may feel hazy, confusing, doubtful, or even painful right now, they are just temporary, and they don't define who you are. The truth is that everything we experience in life is just temporary, even though it may feel like forever when it's happening. You start to lose faith, start to question your sanity, and you could even start to feel guilty. It's so easy to focus on what isn't or what is challenging, but we must remember that even bad days evolve into good days eventually.

I frequently encourage mental health wellness because I think we can eliminate the stigma attached to mental illness if we were more knowledgeable and open about it. You don't need to have a mental illness diagnosis for this topic to apply to you; we can all relate. What do you think would happen to your mental health if you kept on thinking about the setbacks and suffering you encountered at a difficult time? If everything remained stagnant, the world would not develop and grow; the good cannot exist without the bad. Duality is essential since life is a constantly changing experience. If people, challenges, happiness, and everything else we know in life weren't transitory, we couldn't get better over time.

How good are you at spotting those beautiful moments when things start to get better? We may start to worry about things that haven't even happened yet. We tend to think back on the past, which could bring up painful memories. So, is there a middle ground? How can we recognize the good when it appears in front of us, how do we take use of our wonderful moments? According to the Nurtured Heart Institute, people should use emotionally nourishing words and therefore should reflect on the following questions: “What is so great about what I am seeing?” or “What do I appreciate about this moment in front of me?”