“Make the impossible possible, the possible easy, the easy elegant.”
_Moshe Feldenkrais
The short answer is yes. But that does somewhat obscure the fact that when we dance there are a whole lot of effects of our dance, some of which we are not even aware of.
Physiologically dance like any other activity that engages the body will have positive effects such as improved muscle development, strength and endurance. Perfect to counteract the sedentary lifestyle we all tend to follow especially as we grow older. For a couple of years I have suffered with sciatica and the pain that follows. Thanks to carefully crafted movements I have been able to manage this condition to almost to the point of it having a nil effect. Of course, there are times when my body reminds me – such as when I lift heavy objects or relax into cushions that are too soft to support my body. But on the whole, focused attention on my dance has made a huge difference.
Of course there are other physical benefits such as flexibility, agility and co-ordination. The embodied experience of such characteristics has an effect on the brain where distinctions between body and mind don’t seem to have much importance. Our positive physical experiences influence our mental state and there are moments of insight and awareness where we connect with things for example, like flexibly and balance, and recognise how we can translate these into other areas of our life – work and family relations for example.
This magical relationship between our dance and life has a far greater depth than the few words captured here. It can be truly magical and the beauty of this is that all we really need to do is dance – and brain and body work behind the scenes. This leaves us free to ENJOY THE DANCE.
Christos Daskalakos
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