Dancing is an excellent way to connect with someone, get exercise but most of all have fun! Most people think they cannot dance, they look silly dancing or do not have rhythm but that does not matter at all, as long as you are moving your body and feeling the music it will have an effect on you. Dance therapy can be conducted in senior centers, adult day care programs, assisted living residences, skilled nursing facilities and even in your own home. Dance therapy, according to the American Dance Therapy Association, is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual integration of the individual. Dance therapy works on the premise that our life experiences are held in the body, and that through the use of movement, memories and emotions can be recalled and re-experienced despite cognitive, psychological, or physical impairment. For many seniors it can be hard to find motivation to get into a regular exercise routine, in order for something to be a habit you need to get enjoyment out of it. Dancing is a great way to exercise and have fun it has a lot of health benefits and has some powerful effects on the brain. Dancing is a great cardio exercise that is good for the heart and good for preventing heart disease and high blood pressure. In addition, dancing and music are very therapeutic and can have mental health benefits. Dancing may help seniors improve their memory, reduce their risk of depression, and fight stress. Dance can also be used as physical therapy, when dance is used as therapy, it can help seniors improve their balance and reduce their risk of falling. Other benefits include:
- Emotional Closeness: As you age individuals typically lose the ability to share thoughts and gestures of affection with their loved ones.
- Mind & Body Connection: Dance therapy helps ease problematic behaviors such as agitation which is common among individuals with dementia who are frustrated with their changing abilities. It helps individual to calm down, reassuring, boosts self-confidence and self-esteem.
- Agitation Management: Non-verbal individuals often become agitated out of frustration and sensory overload from the inability to process environmental stimuli. Engaging them in singing, rhythm playing, dancing, physical exercise, and other structured music activities can diffuse this behavior and redirect their attention. It stimulates memories and provides opportunities for reminiscence.
- Building Motor Skills: It enhances motor functioning helping with balance and coordination. It is also useful for individuals with Parkinson’s as it helps to maintain motor functioning.
- Communication: It allows the individual to express body language, non-verbal behaviors, and also regulate emotions. It helps to increase confidence, social and communication skills as well as improve self-esteem and over all attentiveness in individuals.
- Relaxation: It increases the amount of endorphins in the brain which result in you experiencing a sense of well-being and the rhythmic movements can also help you feel calmer.
- Promotes heart health: People with stable chronic heart failure may derive the same aerobic health advantages from learning how to waltz as they would from more traditional forms of cardiovascular exercise, such as cycling or walking, says a study published in the journal Circulation.
- Defend against dementia: When compared to other leisure activities (e.g. playing golf, doing crosswords, reading, cycling, etc.) dancing appears to offer the best chance of helping stave off dementia. According to a 21-year study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, aging adults who danced regularly had a 76 percent reduced risk for developing dementia. Experts theorize that dancing is beneficial for our brains because it combines cardiovascular exercise with split-second decision making that taxes our neural network, forcing it to create new pathway
Dance therapy is something your loved one can have fun with, maybe at a senior center with friends or on their own. But don’t forget dance therapy is something everyone can enjoy no matter what your health or age. This is another way for you to connect with that family member who maybe is non-verbal, depressed or has anxiety. A new approach is something to consider because it gives you both pure joy and happiness. However, it’s important to always be sure and check with a doctor before embarking on a rigorous dancing regime, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions.
There are many types of dance to consider:
- Ballroom
- Tap
- Jazz
- Ballet
- Interpretative
- Lyrical
- Modern
So consider this your official permission to get out there and dance like no one’s watching!
If you know someone who could benefit from dance therapy give Relevar Home Care a call at (586) 493-7677 . We can assist with transportation to the dance classes. We service many metro Detroit counties including Oakland and Macomb.