Saturday 22 August 2020

The Science of Dance

In this brilliant articleEmiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D talks of the benefits to mental health of dancing. I've really missed the energy of dancing in a crowd but have still lifted my mood by dancing hectically to Timmy Trumpet or with enthusiasm to Bakermat. A quick 15 minute burst will dispel the COVID blues that seem to rear up at odd times.

In the Tomorrowland set, Timmy Trumpet at one point even asks for your craziest dance. As I complied, I felt strangely elated. Sometimes a simple physical shift is enough to change your mood.

I love to dance. I can block the world out when I dance. Or I can share the moment with the people around me who fall into sync. I'm not a good dance but one of the upsides of being old, at a concert, people are more shocked at my age than my moves...the lack of rhythm and strange moves must pass unnoticed 'because she's so old'....

I am hoping we get our concerts and festivals back soon, but for now, any dancing is better than no dancing at all. So by myself, when I can, even in short bursts, will have to do.

Remember as they say in Hawaii, "A’a i ka hula, waiho i ka maka’u i ka hale." Dare to dance, leave shame at home.




If you're having a rough day, blast out this song and dance with as much frenetic energy as you can. I guarantee you'll feel better. I embedded the clip to 911 because the visuals are everything I'm really missing at the moment. More than travel, if you can believe that! But Party til we die is the real mood lifter that gets inside you and pumps you up.

Do you have small tricks to lift your mood?

Linking with #KCACOLS (I still can't get the badges to work! Sorry!) 

30 comments:

  1. Keep on dancing. It's good for our mind and body. #lifethisweek

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  2. Occasionally I break out into a dance on cardio days in the gym. Gets the heart rate up and makes me feel good. I love the saying - dance like no one’s watching #lifethisweek

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  3. I love nothing better than my daggy pop playlist and dancing around the kitchen while the dog looks on. Keep on dancing. It's the best mood shifter ever.

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  4. I can't remember the last time I danced! Maybe I should fix that.

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  5. Great music to dance to Lydia! Thanks for the reminder and who knew there was a science of dance?? #lifethisweek

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  6. I'm always so impressed with people who can dance spontaneously and not feel self-conscious. I am such a straighlaced girl at times and it often makes me wish I'd been a drinker so I could throw my inhibitions to the wind a little more easily!

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    1. Hi Lydia - just back for the last #MLSTL and I've shared on my SM xx

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  7. I'm not a dancer but definitely a headbanger so I know what you mean re concerts and festivals and being in that space and moving to the music. I miss it too!

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  8. I've always loved dancing Lydia and from age 15 - 30 I had a dance studio - ballet, tap and jazz. Nothing fills me with joy like dancing does and yes it is good for our health in so many ways. Keep dancing! #lifethisweek

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  9. I love dancing. My mom loved to dance and my dad was not a big dancer. Neither is my hubby but I Met him dancing. HaHaHa!

    Thanks for stopping by. I am here today phamilyblogs.com

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  10. dance is good for health, body and mind

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  11. I love dancing alone - when no one can see me!

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  12. I agree--dancing is good exercise and good mental therapy to make one feel happy and care free. Much needed right now!

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  13. I love your 'unself-consciousness' in this...and I am not like that. However, I will dance and play with little kids and like that a lot. My grandson, Firelite DJ would love you in his crowd...he misses his audiences. Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek and next week the optional prompt is 35/51 Share Your Snaps #7 31.8.2020 and I hope to see you there too. Denyse.

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  14. I'm not a dancer, in any real sense of the word, but I can understand the freedom and joy in moving your body and feeling at home in it. Great post. x

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  15. I love to dance around my home. Sometimes I just have to turn on the music and move around in order to shake off lethargy or self-doubt or whatever. And sometimes I just do it for fun!

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  16. I loved to dance when I was young. My frenemies would laugh and tease me for my moves!

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  17. The art of dance might be an alternate title. COOL whatever you call it.

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  18. I love good dance even though I am no dancer lol x

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  19. I totally agree that dancing boosts your mood. I love going to Zumba classes because its dancing. #ParentPower

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  20. I definitely think dancing and exercise are beneficial to mental health. I always used to be first on the dance floor, it is fab to feel free and not care what people think. Thanks for joining us on #ParentPower

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  21. Well, my son is a dancer and he says he feels happiest when he dances (he does classic ballet at a ballet school) so we fully agree with you. It's very good for the soul!
    #parentpower

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  22. Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16, open until September 26!

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  23. I dance when I do the ironing. Also I recently joined TikTok and have done a couple of the dances on there. It's very liberating.
    Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.

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  24. We have Sunday morning dance parties in the kitchen every week. Can't remember the last time I danced in public with an adult though which is kind of sad come to think of it #KCACOLS

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  25. The kids and I always have a boogie in the house to our fave tunes, especially when we are stuck indoors when the weather is bad. great post xx #kcacols

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  26. I definitely have some tracks that can lift my mood in an instant. Thanks for reminding me about them #KCACOLS

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  27. I love dancing - I was so happy that my Zumba classes started back (for now, at least!) Glad you have something to raise your mood, so important at the moment! #KCACOLS

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  28. I'm a terrible dancer - so much so we had to have dance lessons before our wedding dance! #KCACOLS

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