“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
What do you do when you are distressed and anxious? I can almost hear the answers you people are most likely thinking of through the screen: “Sleep, exercise, eat, paint, read a book, watch something, dance-”. Yup. This is exactly what I am looking for. I have read a lot of blogs and articles on how people have realized the power of dancing during the lock down. After reading those articles, I myself tried using this power and guess what? It cast an enchanting spell on me.
Paulo Coelho once said, “When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you”. He was so right about it. I knew and felt what he meant by that saying. Dance to me is my way of expressing emotions. Painters give voice to their emotions and feelings on their canvas by painting. In the same way, dancing is my canvas. My body and my mind get together to make a beautiful painting manifesting what I truly feel at a particular moment. It has helped me get through dark, painful times. It is one thing that does not need perfection. It does not need a plan; you have the freedom to write your own script for your dance.
Amidst this chaos, finding your own voice, your own thoughts, your own feelings can be a task. We are vulnerable to get detached from ourselves, from the reality, from our loved ones. Staying connected is very essential for mental health. Dancing offers that luxury to you. Research shows that dancing can improve your mental health by boosting your overall happiness. It has the ability to uplift one’s mood, reduce stress and ease anxiety.
To those of you who feel anxious or tensed before giving a presentation, getting ready to confront someone or any kind of public speaking, here’s a small tip. Just lock yourself in a room, turn on your preferred music and dance it all out before the event. You will notice that you are brought to a more enlightened state of mind. You will feel a focus shift from your anxious thoughts to the music and the movements your body is taking. For someone who’s socially anxious, consider my word for it; I have tried it and it really works. Every time I have a presentation coming up, before going to class, I go to my hostel room or in the bathroom cubicle, put on my headphones and just dance my anxiety away.
In case you do not get a chance to dance before the event, you can still do it after it’s over to calm your heart and mind. A lot of us are still stuck with the sinking feeling, apprehensive thoughts racing in our mind and the increased heart rate even after the episode. Once we start dancing, our thoughts become simpler, relaxed and in some time, our entire focus shifts from our thoughts to our movements. Escaping is generally regarded as a harmful thing for a long term basis, but dancing has made it acceptable and suitable.
As does in exercise, dopamine, also known as “the feel good” hormone, is released in a good amount while dancing. This is why dancing is highly recommended for those who feel lonely, as well as for those who suffer from anxiety and severe stress. It alleviates your negative state of mind and brings great relief. Letting yourself loose to the sound of music really liberates you and helps you connect with yourself. It is said that the movements of our body manifest our true feelings. So, when you are dancing, your movements can tell you a lot about your emotions. It helps you to shell out your emotions, leading to a natural expression of ourselves.
Dancing around in your room with music blasting from your headphones/ speakers, can also be considered as one of the ultimate forms of self care. You will learn to let go off those undesired feelings. You will learn to renew energy. You will learn to fall in love with your body. You will learn to love yourself. What can be more beautiful than this? Dancing is such a delightful form of art. It works its magic and sets you free. Someone once said that “Tell me the last time you danced and I will tell the last time you were happy”. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration but you are getting the hang of it, right?
It does not matter if you do not know dancing or you think you are bad at it. You aren’t dancing to impress, but to express. You are doing it for yourself. Take a deep breathe before you shake it off. Unleash that wild being inside of you that has been eagerly waiting to get out. Let your body take over your mind. Play your jam and observe your body do its job. Dancing is poetry that is written with your arms and legs. Observe your mind drive away the stress, anxiety and loneliness that you’re experiencing. Observe your mind open the pathway for joy and positive thoughts.
So, what are you waiting for? Get on that dance floor, let yourself loose and you will realize how tensed your muscles were. You will realize how disconnected you were with yourself. You will realize what all thoughts and feelings you have kept hidden deep inside. You will realize what it feels like to be boundless. Most importantly, you will realize what it feels like to fall in love with yourself.
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