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Dance Your Way to Better Mental Health
By Terra Vande Hey, MA
Hope this newsletter finds you ready for spring and excited for another season of Dancing with the Stars- to all you fans out there.
Expressive therapy uses “creative arts” to foster growth and healing. This type of therapy uses creative expression and imagination to reflect on the body, feelings, and thoughts. There are many different kinds of expressive therapy that can be used at home. This can include music, writing, play, drama, art, and dance.
Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is the therapeutic use of movement to improve physical, emotional, spiritual and cognitive functioning. There are many benefits of dance therapy.
Health benefits of dance/movement therapy:
Flexibility: The capacity to which one can bend, stretch, twist, lift, and turn plays an important role in their health. While dance requires a lot of flexibility, it is also a way for individuals to achieve full range of motion among many of the major muscle groups. Most dance classes begin with a warm-up, which includes both flexing and extending muscle groups building elasticity and flexibility.
Strength: The amount of power a muscle can exert against a force. Dancing builds strength through resistance training and is an important part of one’s capacity to jump and leap in the air.
Energy: An individual’s ability to endure increasing amounts of exercise without experiencing fatigue. Physical exercise not only increases endurance but also increases a special neurotransmitter substance in the brain called endorphins, which create a feeling of well-being.
Well-being: The way an individual feels about their physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health. Dance provides individuals the opportunity to strengthen themselves in all areas of life. Since physical activity reduces tension and stress, dancing can improve one’s overall sense of health and wellness.
DMT is a fun form of physical exercise that can improve your mobility, coordination, and muscle weakness, as well as reduce bodily tension. Emotionally, dance therapy has proven to increase self-awareness and self-confidence, while providing individuals with an outlet for communicating their feelings.
Dance/movement therapy can also enhance an individuals’ spiritual connection by surfacing innermost feelings, thus fostering a sense of solace, renewal, and relaxation. DMT can improve mental health by helping individuals gain clarity and elevate mood.
The basic principle underlying dance therapy is that a vital connection exists between mind and body. In other words, our personality and the way in which we move are interrelated. HOWEVER-this does not mean that bad dancing reflects poorly on your personality. Rather, dance/movement therapy affords you the opportunity for creative self-expression and healing.
The origin of dance utilized for self-expression has been popular in many cultures throughout history. For example, many Native American tribes have used dance as a part of their healing rituals and ceremonies throughout time.
In 1942, psychiatrists in Washington D.C recognized Marian Chace’s pioneering efforts in dance therapy after noticing the therapeutic benefits of patients who were attending her dance classes. Consequently, St. Elizabeth’s hospital asked her to work with patients who had trouble participating in regular group activities. Following shortly after this, the American Dance Therapy Association was founded in 1966.
Dance/Movement Therapy in Prevention and Treatment
- Some promoters claim that dance therapy may strengthen our immune system and can even help with disease prevention
- Many innovative health promotion programs are providing dance therapy for people with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic pain, and breast cancer
- Dance therapy is effective as a technique in helping individuals suffering from body image issues
- Currently, people of all ages and varying conditions are receiving DMT, such as, adult survivors of violence, sexually and physically abused children, autistic children, and dysfunctional families
This spring, try something new and sign up for a dance class, lessons, or even buy a DVD to practice in the privacy of your own home. Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and ballroom dancing are just a few of the many exercises that you can use to strengthen your health-and your mental health.
For more information regarding dance therapy, contact the American Dance Therapy Association.
References
http://www.adta.org/
http://www.nccata.org/dance_therapy.htm
http://www.cancer.org http://www.edrefferal.com/movement_therapy.htm
Quote of the month
"Dance is your pulse, your heartbeat, your breathing. It's the rhythm of your life.
It's the expression in time and movement, in happiness, joy, sadness and envy."
- Jaques D'ambroise
Welcome New Clinicians!
We are lucky to have 3 fantastic new clinicians. More information to come, or check out our staff page at www.dollandassociates.com!
Laura Sandberg, LCSW
Terra Vande Hey, MPC. Look for her at UW Fond du Lac campus office.
Stephen Roberts, LCSW, CSAC
Registration is starting for our Summer Social Skills Groups. Call 907-8201 for more information or to sign up!
FDL County Autism Support Group
Understanding your Child’s Peer Relationships and Tips to Help Kids Have More Positive Social Interactions
Dr. Sarah Arnold
April 22, 2010 Friendship Learning Center Library, NFDL
For more great articles and mental health resources, check out our web site at www.dollandassociates.com. To schedule an appointment with one of our therapists or psychologists, call 907-8201.
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