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bellydance, bellydancer, dance as therapy, dancing, eastern arts, eastern dance, exotic art, exotic dance, oriental arts, oriental dance, therapeutic activity, ways dancing is therapeutic, ways dancing is therapy
Dancing can be therapeutic…. There are soooo many types of dances too, to gratify every taste. But as a feminine-spirited girl, only the most sensual dances appeal to me. The Ancient Eastern Dances are the only ones that now appeal to me, but it wasn’t always that way.
I grew up dancing in church. And I mean literally, not figuratively! When I was a young girl, my family took me to a church and as soon as the drums started pounding for the church band, my mother had to grab me to hold me still; I had jumped out the pew in front of everybody and started moving my body to the beat. Her hands were clasped around my waist and stomach, but I didn’t care; I was still dancing.
Here’s a picture of my mom and I, around the time that occurred:
Since then, I learned how to dance jazz, hip hop, pop n lock, wave, house, and step. Exactly 18 years ago, I took my first belly dance class. That lasted for three months, because it started to get too expensive at the time, but in that little time I soared.
Everything changed from that moment on. I never forgot about belly dancing and the exotic rhythms I heard. Shortly after, I began to fantasize about getting a group together and performing. That’s when I knew it penetrated my DNA. I started teaching myself the art by learning from great classic dancers. Since then I’ve performed & taught privately. Today, I am still studying to improve this beautiful art-form.
Doing research for my current class, I decided to share with you all the benefits that dancing can do for you. Especially now, since I recently became an expressive arts consultant. For those that don’t know what that is: expressive arts is the practice of using the process of making art, not for the sake of the end result (a creation), but to help people transform, change, and improve their lives as they create. If you are interested in learning more click here.
Here’s the results of my findings~
26 Ways Dancing can be Therapeutic:
- relieves stress
- decreases anxiety
- boosts self-esteem
- enhances mobility
- reduces depression
- improves flexibility
- increases your energy
- increases quality of life
- promotes finer memory
- gives you better balance
- increases physical fitness
- develops gross motor skills
- gives one the ability to cope
- makes your heart healthier
- benefits lasts for a long time
- sharpens muscle coordination
- supports satisfying body image
- having fun while making friends
- a vehicle for expressing emotions
- encourages creativity and imagination
- gives an opportunity for social interaction
- boosts and improves self-confidence & esteem
- burns 200-350 calories an hour for weight control
- like other athletics, it’s an accepted form of exercise
- becomes a ritual or habit, more than any other type of exercise
- increases well-being, affecting your mood in a good or positive way
Do you practice some form of dance as exercise or profession? If so what type and how long have you been doing it? If you’re a dancer, you might enjoy my dance quotes!
Again, another set of events led me to seek wearing less makeup. It wasn’t the plethora of girls on YouTube proclaiming that the Lord revealed to them how it’s defined & to stop wearing it. It wasn’t when I discovered the book of Enoch recorded that a spirit taught women in Earth how to apply makeup. It wasn’t that I felt insecure without it.
