HOW TO TAP IN TO THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION WHILE DANCING?

Are you familiar with the mind-body dance philosophy? You may have heard this phrase thrown around during your ballroom dance lesson but you may still be wondering how you can best implement this into your dance practice.

 What if it turns out that dance is one of the first mind-body disciplines? Based on ancient paintings found 8000 years ago in a cave in Europe illustrating that. This paintings demonstrates moving figures engaged in a ritualistic fertility dance. Throughout history one of the most popular forms of self expression was the body movement. And over time, dance has taken on an abundance of different styles and forms on a quest to send different message trough the expression of the body.

When you’re dancing, not only is it physically liberating, especially if you’re slumped over a desk all day, it’s also a natural way to get out of your own head. Beyond music and words, dancing allows your intuitive nature to take hold and an internal rhythm to set in. Unable to hide, your body language reveals itself. Like yoga and meditation, it allows you to block out external noise and gain clarity. 

Like we said earlier , many people are working long hours and we all have limited time and energy to dedicate to their dance practice . Some of us are just happy to make it to the studio on most days. Knowing this, it's easy to go into autopilot. Increasing awareness and mindfulness during your rehearsal will ensure you're getting the most out of your time spent on the dance floor.

If you're anything like the rest of us, your time is often limited and getting the most out of your dance practice is key. Learn how to tap in to your mind-body connection at the dance studio either in group class or during a solo training session to achieve peak performance and great results.

Focus on the body parts engaged

Take a cucaracha in Rumba , for example. Our brains tend to think of the movement in terms of external change on the level of the physical body: "Move your hips with a cuban motion while you give opposition with your upper body." Instead, try to think of the body part at work. Can you feel it? Many of us guilty of going on autopilot may not consider the way the body feels during these movements but we focus on simply making the movements themselves. Rewiring your brain to focus on feeling the body part at work will help enhance the mind-body connection and increase the effectiveness of your dance training. 

start breathing better

Breathe with intention. Image Ballroom Dance Academy advises to breathe with intention. This helps you being more efficient and control your blood pressure while exercising. As you know ballroom dancing is not only a sport but it can be an art too. Not only will this ease your mind, but it will help you loosen up you body and prevent you from holding tension and looking stiff. Holding your breath during dance training causes houses the body to look ridged and inflexible which can lead to injuries.

Don't allow fear to hold you back from trying new things? It’s easy to isolate yourself and only keep doing the things that feel safe. It turns to to be true that as you dance, you adapt to change in an active flow. That will create a ripple effect on various aspects of your life.

Group dance or yoga classes for mind-body connection

Group dance and yoga classes may be the easiest way to begin channeling your mind-body connection as they naturally harness mindful movements and meditation. Both disciplines are practiced worldwide and focus on the use of the stabilizer muscles found in your spine, pelvis and core. They emphasize on strengthening the core and improve flexibility. Beginner dance classes or Yoga are designed for skill levels that anyone without prior experience is encouraged to take a class without ending up frustrated. Participants of all levels will benefit from ballroom dance or yoga training with enhanced breathing techniques. We find that these disciplines will increase your consciousness to start a mind-body connection.

Social dancing has benefits, helping people live longer and more joyfully; it also creates a feeling of belonging and social engagement. No need to be ballroom dancer-thin and flexible, also like Yoga, dance is for every body type. While dancing looks sophisticated... surprisingly, its wellness benefits extend to most ordinary tasks; many studies discovered that people who danced felt happier, had better posture and greater flexibility. Also these people were able to perform daily activities with greater ease and confidence.