Dance for a healthy body, mind and soul

Dance is an age-old popular form of performing art which is losing its glory and grandeur in this fast-paced modern world. Dance is not only known to connect the body, mind and soul but is a very good form of exercise for your overall well-being. For some, it has become an effective medium to channelise the negative into positive and vent out anger and frustration thereby, keeping their mental peace intact.

It further uplifts the mood and can be an effective stress-buster. With numerous health benefits associated with it, its demand is increasing and people are opting for dance as a medium of fitness. Founder of Avanti School of Performing Arts, Dr Avanti Arya shares some of the important benefits that dance can have physically and mentally:

Helps in weight loss: Sedentary lifestyle is one of the major causes of increasing obesity among the youth. Various dance styles require fast movement and therefore, can accelerate the process of weight loss. If you are on the lookout to shed those extra pounds then opt for a dance form with intense movements.

Flexible body: You can have a flexible body as it stretches the muscles. It helps in increasing stamina. Ballet dance helps in developing postural control and core strength.

Sharp mental skill: Dance increases the flow of blood to the brain. It boosts the mind and lowers the rate of dementia. Some researchers are of the opinion that memorizing dance steps and staying in sync with the rhythm can promote the growth of new neurons.

Intense workout: Dancing is a whole body work-out that not only promises to keep you healthy both physically and mentally.

Encourages social bond: Psychologists believe that chatting with random people lights up the brain pathways, which otherwise blur the barriers the mind builds between you and the stranger. It helps in developing a better sense of connection and sameness.