Dance Your Way Through Depression | The Epoch Times

Can you truly dance away feelings of gloom or sway your way to improved cognitive and neurological health?

While all forms of exercise are beneficial for health, dance uniquely merges physical movement with music and social engagement. This interplay may underlie its significant health advantages.

Boosts Mood

A Canadian study published in Advancing Digital Health & Open Science highlights the increasing prevalence of depression in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

The researchers investigated the impact of an 8-month weekly dance class on 34 participants, with 68 percent diagnosed with Parkinson’s and 32 percent healthy individuals. Post-intervention self-reported questionnaires indicated a drop in depression levels, and MRIs revealed a decrease in markers associated with oxygenation within a critical area of the frontal cortex linked to depression.

Dance movement therapy (DMT) is the therapeutic application of movement, based on the belief in the body-mind connection and the healing power of dance. It fosters emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration to enhance health and well-being.

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Similar to other forms of exercise, dance elevates the “feel-good” hormones known as endorphins, yet its mood-enhancing attributes are more intricate.

Kristine Gonyon, a licensed clinical professional counselor and dance/movement therapist at Relief Mental Health, shared her expertise with The Epoch Times regarding how dance uplifts mood.

“Dance can act as a release for anyone grappling with anxiety or tension in their body. We often get caught up in our thoughts—planning, processing, and remembering—which can lead to a feeling of being ‘stuck’ in our heads and disconnected from our bodies. Dance creates a bond between the body and mind. Focusing on movement and music diverts attention from stressors and worries that may be overwhelming.”

Improves Neuroplasticity

Dance serves as a remarkable tool for bolstering neurological health, with scientific validation, according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a board-certified family medicine osteopathic physician.

Engaging in dance stimulates various regions of the brain, including those linked to movement, balance, and sensory processing. This enhances the brain’s capacity for learning and adaptation, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. This process involves structural changes within the brain that lead to functional improvements, as highlighted in an email to The Epoch Times.

The study indicates that dance supports improvements in memory, attention, and body balance.

“These findings imply that dance uniquely engages brain areas to foster neuroplasticity even in already matured brains,” the researchers noted.

Enhances Cognition

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment are at a heightened risk for developing dementia.

Increases Fitness

Sedentary behavior is prevalent among individuals aged 60 and older, leading to numerous health issues. In a systematic review published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, researchers analyzed 18 studies incorporating various dance styles, including ballroom, cultural, jazz, and contemporary. Findings indicated that any type of dance might enhance balance, endurance, muscle strength, and other aspects of functional fitness in seniors.

Promotes Neurological Rehabilitation

A systematic review published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies assessed the advantages of dance in rehabilitating neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Fosters Socialization

Dance exemplifies social learning, connection, communication, and trust, as highlighted by the authors of a systematic review published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (NBR).

Janet Bayramyan, a licensed clinical social worker psychotherapist and owner of Road to Wellness in Los Angeles, elaborated on the social benefits of dancing in a message to The Epoch Times.

“Individuals participating in partner or group dances often describe a profound sense of camaraderie with their partners. This mental health boost arises because we all seek to feel understood, heard, and validated. Dancers achieve this through synchronized movement in partnerships.”

She further mentioned that specific ballroom dance styles, like salsa, are particularly renowned for cultivating connection. These forms of dance often create chances for emotional release and community involvement.

“You can forge meaningful friendships and connections through such experiences.”

Many forms of dance are enjoyable and relatively easy to pick up, particularly the waltz. For those who believe they lack dancing skills or have never danced, enrolling in a class can be a gateway to learning.

Choreograph Your Moves

The NBR systematic review summarizes the features that impart uniqueness to dance, such as the rhythm and harmony of music and the aspects of socialization and communication. Emotion, cognition, enjoyment, and aesthetics are further components that, when combined, yield remarkable results, as previously described.

While many engage in physical activity accompanied by music, few synchronize and structure their movements to the rhythm or beat. Choreography encompasses an aesthetic dimension that can evoke emotions while composing and recalling movements, engaging cognitive control areas of the brain.

“It all revolves around the magic trio—movement, music, and connection,” stated Harold Hong, a board-certified psychiatrist and medical director at New Waters Recovery in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In an email to The Epoch Times, he encapsulated this synergy: Physical activity strengthens the body, enhances blood circulation to the brain, and releases mood-enhancing chemicals. Music taps into emotions, fosters positive memories, and sets a rhythmic backdrop for movement. Social connections instill a feeling of community and belonging.

When combined, these elements amplify one another, Hong emphasized. Movement alleviates tension, music elevates mood, and social engagement fosters emotional resilience.

“That’s the essence of dance; it’s not merely exercise—it’s an experience that leaves one feeling vibrant and interconnected.”

The NBR systematic review noted dance’s ability to cultivate happiness, providing prolonged periods of positive emotions, allowing individuals to quite literally “dance the night away,” as the researchers expressed.

Hong affirmed: “Dance is fundamentally about joy. Whether you’re gliding across a ballroom, tapping your foot to your favorite tune in traffic, or expressing yourself freely in your living room, dance has a phenomenal ability to uplift both body and spirit.”

“There’s no need to be a trained dancer, execute perfect choreography, or possess rhythm. Simply moving your body to music can unleash a cascade of benefits. So, the next time you hear a song that resonates with you, don’t hesitate. Stand up, let yourself move, and savor the moment. Your mind, body, and spirit will express their gratitude.”