Mental Benefits of Dancing
- Increases mental and memory capacity. In one research, women with fibromyalgia who participated in the aerobic exercise program Zumba reported improvements in their working memory, motor function, and depressive symptoms. According to a different study, ladies between the ages of 57 and 90 who took part in Zumba for six weeks had improved cognition and brain function. For individuals healing from brain traumas, some physicians will even recommend dance instruction. Our mental acuity and energy levels can both be enhanced by the activity.
- lowers the chance of dementia. It should come as no surprise that dancing can reduce the risk of dementia as it enhances memory. The impact of dancing on mental health was investigated in a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. To find out if mind-body exercises like yoga, tai chi, and dance may improve adults’ cognition, researchers looked at 32 trials with more than 3,500 participants aged 50 to 85. Researchers discovered that older folks with superior cognitive function than inactive individuals engaged in mind-body activities like dancing. They discovered that even in people who already had signs of mental deterioration, 60 to 120 minutes of tai chi or dancing per week increased cognition from all mind-body activities more than any other exercise. Additionally, compared to previous mind-body exercises, these exercises increased cognitive flexibility.
- Increases white matter in the brains of older people. Another 2017 study found that dancing boosts white matter, which typically decreases with age. White matter can enhance cognitive function and processing speed.
Final Thoughts on How Dancing Heals the Mind and Body
The research mentioned above show that dancing has many advantages for the mind, body, and spirit. Getting your body moving can’t always make you feel better, particularly when you’re doing monotonous, repetitive gym exercises. However, dancing relaxes the body and mind since it’s a joyful, exciting exercise. You may let go and move to the music’s beat while forgetting all of your tension and problems.
It’s hardly surprising that the popularity of Zumba and other movement programs has skyrocketed over the past couple of decades. Consider dancing to put a little pep in your step if you’re searching for a new activity to change up your routine!
