Dance Therapy
First of all, let us define what a dance therapy is. WHOLEHEALTHMD online defines this as Dance therapy is the use of choreographed or improvised movement as a way of treating social, emotional, cognitive, and physical problems.
Science says that the body and mind are connected and that they form a language that allows them to communicate and interact with each other. While there is a relationship found between these two aspects of a human being, the idea that dance being used as a therapeutic element can provide treatment to ailments and sickness of our human body.
Studies show that there are several areas that make dance a possible therapy to the various weaknesses that human bodies complain. The article Dance Therapy lists the following three areas in the process of dance therapy.
Modern Dance
Movement Analysis
Psychoanalytic Theory
The modern dance can be considered an element of dance therapy since it is the movement that our mind can currently relate to. Usually, our mind is set or programmed to the current events that we see such as the current trend in dancing. On the other hand, movement analysis allows our mind to concentrate and focus on the movement that we do. Sometimes when we focus on a movement, especially in a dance, there is a tendency that our mind believes that such movement relieves our negative feelings or pains. Lastly, psychoanalytic theory is related to the modern dance and movement analysis. When we combine dancing and movement analysis, our psyche has an inclination to relate the ease that modern dance movements provides us with the relief of our body.
The Realm of Dance Therapy
Since the ancient times, dance movements are used as form of expression and form of healing to our ancestors. For instance, when our ancestors worship their gods, they believe that dancing around the god images can give them good health and strong body. As indicated by Selene Vega, in her article Moving into Sacred Realms,
Movement has been used in many settings, both ancient and modern, to enhance self-awareness, group bonding, and connection with the sacred. Without our conscious attention, the ways we move and hold ourselves in a day-to-day life express feelings and attitudes about ourselves
Our ancestors may be unaware on the effect of dances to their body but these days, these effects are being studied both by physical and psychological medicines. From our ancestors' culture, we are now brought to a more meaningful and profound importance to dance movements. That is, dances used as therapy to our ailments and negative aspects of the human body.
The Solutions that Dance Therapy Provides
The findings of science that the mind and body works together has an importance to how dance therapies are composed. The state of the different components of our body can affect and influence to how we emotionally and physically feel (Wholehealthmd Online). This is usually connected to the tensions and patterns of muscles (Wholehealthmd Online). Since movements is a form of relaxing our body, especially our muscles, the effect of such movements such as in a dance can help in treating our body.
Aside from how dance movements can bring physical healing to our body, it can also treat us in an external method. For instance, in a group dance sessions, the relationship that we are able to build with other people in the group can generate in us positive emotional feelings. In this way, it is not only the healing effect of physical movements that dance provides that is important, but, is also the good combination of good emotional feelings. This then helps in a more healing and treatment process to our human body where both our body and mind are affected positively.
There are many benefits that one can get from a dance therapy. Wholehealthmd online suggests the following to be beneficial outcomes from dance therapies.
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