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Dance to transform your body, mind and soul

Dance to transform your body, mind and soul

Dance has an immense power to integrate the mind, body and soul. Here's how.

Written by Shraddha Rupavate |Updated : April 29, 2016 4:51 PM IST

For many out there, dancing might be just a weekend activity associated with late night parties and loud music. For a few it might be a means of engaging in some sort of physical exercise, socialising or just following a generic norm that everybody else follows.

But, dance has much more to it. I believe dance is the only art form that requires a person to be physically, emotionally and mentally active, all at the same time. It has an immense power to integrate the mind, body and soul leaving the dancer transformed from within.

When I started dancing, I had a very narrow vision like most people do. All I knew was that I like dancing. And today, although I still have a long way to go and explore much more, I have realized how deeply dance connects the three elements (mind, body and soul) that revolve around the word self.

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1. Dance brings you closer to self : We humans are probably habituated to take our bodies for granted. Thanks to our busy and sedentary lifestyle, most people manage to spend their lives without understanding the importance of their bodies. Your body is the first characteristic feature that defines your self. It is the temple of your soul. And dance is one of the ways that helps you to explore your self through movement.

2. Dance broadens your vision: People who have dedicated their lives to dance are not just artists or performers. They are creators and visionaries. Dance has a huge impact on the creative part of the brain. It develops imagination, improves visualization and boosts creative skills. It is the only art that can empower you to literally bring each and every imagination of yours into reality and live it. Read Healthy heart tip Dance your heart out

3. Dance helps control your mind: Many people dance because they feel it s an activity that does not require thinking or using the brain. The fact is, when you are dancing, you are in the most conscious state of your mind. Think about it--you listen to music, grasp the rhythm, coordinate that rhythm with movements and spontaneously express them along with facial expressions. All these processes not only require you to use your brain but also command it. So, when a dancer performs, he is in a full state of consciousness and exerts complete control over his mind. Read more about dancing your way to fitness with Neo-Tango!

4. Dance builds confidence: Connecting with your body and self gives you the much needed confidence. Dance also gives you the opportunity to meet new people from varied backgrounds, cultures and mindsets. You get to learn a lot from their experiences and as well as get a chance to share your experiences. So, as you learn to dance, you slowly drift away from social anxiety and fear. Dance gives you the freedom to express and present what you learned in a confident way. Read more about Dance away your weight and stress with Zumba

5. Dance is the best way to emote:It took me the longest to understand the connection between expressions and dance. To put it in the best way, I quote Martha Graham, the pioneer of modern dance: Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body. I believe that dance surely is an outlet of emotions but those emotions cannot be expressed without being completely confident about movements and without believing in them.

6. Dance improves reflexes: Dancing involves multitasking and improves co-ordination between your sensory organs. As you practice more and get deeper into dance, the response time of your brain reduces making your reflexes even stronger. You listen to music, understand the rhythm, move through a sequence of movements, express as you dance as well as respond to the space surrounding you in a better way.

7. Dance gives you peace of mind: Peace of mind can be achieved when you are closest to your self, when your mind is clear of all thoughts, when you can control what you want to think about. And being passionate about an art (not just dance) is the best way to reach that phase because art opens the doors of imagination that separates you from the surrounding chaos.

8. Dance brings complete happiness: Nobody in this world has escaped momentary happiness. But to be completely or stably happy, a person must get closer to self , find inner peace and have control over the mind. And, achieving these three things together is the hardest thing to do in life. But there s always that one way which can help you to get closest to achieving it. For me it s dance. Read --Dear breast cancer survivor, dance your way to good health!

Image source: Getty images (Image for representational purpose only)