What is Conscious Dance and what are its benefits?
Helene 
A concise no fluff quick guide to somatic awareness and mindful movement!
What is Conscious Dance?
Conscious dance is light years away from the world of the ballroom show Strictly Come Dancing. Rather than competing for points and prizes, the emphasis is on personal exploration and your inner experience. Movement that is free form, spontaneous and authentic and it is held in a safe, inclusive and non judgemental space.
And it is also different from yoga and sitting meditation, though there are some states of overlap.
I have just put together this concise precis of the benefits of conscious somatic dance . It is not about comparing apples with bananas. Rather, to bring awareness to how it can enhance your life, as it has mine. Food for the body, mind and soul.
The Benefits of Conscious Dance
Invite in Calm
When we are stressed we are often in busy beta brain mode, with shortness of breath and agitated nervous system. Mindful movement connects with our bodies to release tension and calm these systems down, connect into the present moment (instead of fretting about past and future concerns) and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being.
Inner Connection
How many of us feel scattered, disconnected, ungrounded on a regular basis?
When we tune into our bodies with deep sensitivity and awareness, and with the power of our breath, we can connect the dots of our being. By integrating conscious movement, we can gain greater insight into our physical sensations, emotions and thoughts. This deepens our mind and body connection, that contributes to a sense of unity and balance.
Improve your Body Image
For those of you who may have body image issues, the idea of moving may feel somewhat vulnerable. Yet as you begin to develop deeper body awareness, you also begin to have more self acceptance. Over time, you will start to appreciate how incredible your body actually is!
Grow your Brain
By moving in new and explorative ways, conscious movement and dance can enhance the neural pathways of your brain. Studies have shown that mental focus is sharpened – including attention, memory and overall cognitive performance. In fact, motor movement has been directly linked to parts of our brain that deal with higher process reasoning. I guess not rocket science when we look at people with learning disabilities.
Find Emotional Release and Resilience
By allowing ourselves to explore our emotions through movement, we give them the opportunity to be expressed and released. This can be carthartic as well as giving us more insight into our own psyches. You can express your emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a non-verbal and artistic way, that can give you a whole new perspective on your emotional world.
Unleash your Creativity
When we give ourselves permission to move and dance to our own rhythm and beat, we can be ourselves. Authentic, unusual, playful where you can create your own movement vocabulary and express your own personal ‘voice’, one that goes beyond words. A unique and celebration of You, because there is only one of you in the universe, what a gift to the world – really.
Community and Social Connection
When we move and dance together we are sharing a universal language. And when we are expressing through our bodies we are communicating in a language that we may not have the words for. In a safe contained space we can be open and true. To build connections in an authentic way that supports and nourishes us so that we feel safe, seen and heard.
I ‘discovered’ dance from my own feelings growing up of disconnection and not belonging Discovering our universal humanness and common vocabulary through the body, not to mention the utter moments of joy and peace that are possible is why I created Niio Dance.
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5 Ways to bring Conscious Movement into your daily life HERE