Dance your way to a healthier brain

As a late millennial growing up, I didn't miss an episode of the sensational Nickelodeon show iCarly. One of the most memorable parts of the show was the random dancing. The characters hosted a web show, and during that segment, a voice would say, "random dancing." At that moment, everyone busted their favorite dance move. In fact, even special guest Michelle Obama random danced!

What if I told you iCarly's random dancing can help your mental health? How so, one word - hormones. Dancing triggers some of the happiness hormones, such as dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, also known as DOSE. Research has pointed out that dancing activates these hormones simultaneously, and combining these chemicals increases our mood and energy. Moreover, these hormones have been linked to reducinganxiety and depression symptoms. Dancing can also be a great practice to help your memory, develop connections and build your self-esteem.

There's no need to wait for a special occasion to move to the beat. Here are some tips if you decide to incorporate a daily dose of dance into your life.

- Dance with yourself. Dance while you brush your teeth, cook or clean; any time is a good time to sprinkle in some dance moves into your routine.

- Don't judge your dance moves. When you worry about how you look or overthink your dance moves, shift your focus to the music and your movement. Unless you're dancing to compete, it is okay to be offbeat.

- Select a comfortable dance floor. Dancing can sometimes feel awkward, so pair it with a safe spacewhere you can let loose.

- Be sure to play the music you enjoy. Any genre counts as long as you move along with the tune.

- Sign up for a dance class. If you need a set time to dance, a class is a great way to schedule dancing and build connections!

- Dance along with videos. Social media platformssuch as YouTube or TikTok are great tools for addingchoreography to your random dancing.

- Practice positive self-talk. If you aren't understanding the dance routine or comparing your moves, take a moment to breathe and reframe negative thoughts. Turn your "I don't get it" to "I can do this."

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for that Salsa, Hip-Hop, or Zumba class. Not ready for a class, queue your favorite song and random dance in the comfort of your home. As Kevin Bacon in Footloose screamed, "Let's Dance!"

—Jessica 

References

Brennan, D. (Ed.). (2021, October 25). Can dancing improve your mental health? WebMD. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-benefits-of-dance 

Kosik, A. H. (2019, October 11). Here's why dancing is good for your brain. Ladders. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/heres-why-dancing-is-good-for-your-brain 

Laird, K. T., Vergeer, I., Hennelly, S. E., & Siddarth, P. (2021). Conscious dance: Perceived benefits and psychological well-being of participants. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 44, 101440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101440 

Lebow, H. I. (2022, July 1). Can dancing help with depression? Psych Central. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://psychcentral.com/depression/dancing-for-depression