You really can dance it out.
Dance has existed as a form of movement before civilization. It is considered an innate behavior, meaning it comes naturally to us, you’re born with the ability without having to be taught. Dance has been used in ceremony, celebration, rituals, and as entertainment for thousands of years according to archeological evidence. Dance is a form of non-verbal communication, making it an important part of our lives as social animals. It helps us communicate and bond with one another without a word. Because of this, dance is an incredible way to process emotion. You’re literally moving through and communicating feelings through the movement. And as we have previously discussed, dance is a great way to manage physical stress in the body helping you complete the stress response cycle. It can help ease muscle tension as well, as long as you’re not pushing your body past it’s limits. Dance can also be a incredible way to feel more attuned to your body’s sensations and needs, increasing how connected you feel to yourself as a whole.
Because dance is so versatile, it can be used for both positive and painful emotional processing. Think dancing at prom to celebrate growing up or many cultures have dance rituals for grief and anger as well. When you have big feelings that maybe you don’t quite understand, dance can be an incredible way to process them. Remember, dance is innate. There are no rules, your body knows how to do it. You don’t need to be a professional dancer on stage to access it. So if you’re having big feelings you want to move through, turn on some music and move your body. Let it be playful, freeing, fun. Let your body speak to you with movement. Maybe you just want to heighten the joy or excitement you are feeling. Let the emotional energy just flow without restriction. Simply dance it all out.
Questions to ponder.
How often do you dance?
How do you feel when you dance freely, no rules, like no one is watching?
How can you incorporate more dance into your life?
