Contrary to what most people believe, I think that happiness is a very simple concept. It’s no wonder the great writer Leo Tolstoy said that if you want to be happy, just be. The problem is in thinking that happiness is in your next job, your next home, or any place other than where you are at the moment. You have all the resources that you need to be happy. It’s an inside job really, the external side of it is just icing on the cake.
That said, dancing is one of the activities that you can do by yourself that requires no money, and goes a long way in making you happy. Echoing the words of Vicki Baum, there are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.
I recently stumbled upon an interesting article by a man by the name of Ben Freeman. According to him, dancing alone in his quarantine hotel room is partly what cured him of his coronavirus dread. “I swiftly found ways to keep my mental health in check, one of which is turning my room into a makeshift dance floor…Finding comfort in solitude was calming and cathartic when the world felt so distant.”
Here are the benefits of dancing alone in your room.
- Improves mood by lowering stress and anxiety
When you are dancing, a number of mood-boosting hormones are released by the body. Spontaneous body movements such as dancing trigger the body to release dopamine which is good for both mental and physical well-being. So if there’s something that’s preoccupying your mind or stressing you, then you might just want to turn to dance.
In a study conducted at the University of Derby, psychologists worked with people suffering from depression. The people received “salsa” lessons for a period of nine weeks. The improvements began to be appreciated after four weeks and, after finishing the course, the participants said they had fewer negative thoughts, better concentration, and a greater sense of peace and tranquillity.
- It boosts self-confidence
If you suffer from social anxiety, I have good news for you. Dancing may just help to turn that situation around. Why? The increased coordination, flexibility and body awareness that come with regular dance are a surefire way to improve your self-esteem. It helps you be able to look at yourself in a different light, and thereby at the end of it all, you will feel more confident. Whether it’s through toning your body, mastering a new move, or just building up the courage to ask a new person to dance, dancing provides many avenues for boosting self-confidence.
- It’s a great alternative to exercises and workouts
If you find workouts monotonous or boring, then you may just want to turn to dance instead. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who finds workouts boring. That’s why you should try out dance routines. It cancels out the idea that working out isn’t fun. Dance is liberating. Working out can be a chore. Learning to perfect a choreography piece will leave you feeling fulfilled and excited, and at the same time achieving some of the benefits of exercise such as weight loss, reducing the risk of heart disease, and sharpening your thinking skills.
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- Music has a healing effect on our emotions
Life can very easily get to you and especially if you focus on all the bad in the world. Dancing is not only a form of escape from what is going on around you, but it also has a healing effect on our emotions. Why? The movement of the body in conjunction with music therapy together helps to do away with a lot of negative emotions. It
Check out Reasons Why You Should Dance More
