We talk a lot about the mind-body connection at posiDance, however its impact is observable deep down into our biological makeup. In fact, dance has an extremely important impact on the hormones our brain releases; moreover, dance influences our 'happy hormones', which are dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins.
To begin, let's look at dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is linked to our reward system. It is associated with pleasurable sensations, both experienced and remembered, and also affects the way that we learn, how our memory functions, and how we utilise our motor system. Music has been shown to increase our dopamine levels, and can also be released by spontaneous body movements - such as dancing. Perhaps this is why we feel an incredible sense of gratitude and pride after a dance class; it's both rewarding and pleasurable!
The next hormone to look at is Oxytocin. This is our connection hormone, or 'love' hormone, and is released when we come into contact with or bond with other people in both an intimate and social setting. This hormone also helps promote trust, empathy and bonding in relationships. Therefore, oxytocin would be released just being present and bonding in a room full of people taking class alongside you, which is probably why dancing feels so communal! It would also explain the amount of trust and care you have for your fellow dancers when working on routines and performances, as you bond in hoping to achieve the same goal.
The hormone and neurotransmitter serotonin is next. This one allows us to feel content and at ease by regulating our mood as well as our sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability and memory. Research has also shown that we increase our serotonin, it can prevent anxiety and depression, improve sleep, and slow our brain's natural ageing process. Luckily for us, physical activity and exercise release serotonin, and because dance also incorporates an emotional release beyond other forms of exercise, our serotonin would increase due to dancing being a form of emotional regulation.
Lastly, our endorphins. This hormone is our body's natural pain relief produced by the nervous system to cope with discomfort when undergoing physical activity, pain or stress. Endorphins, however, as also responsible for our feelings of pleasure, which is probably why we feel 'good pain' when dancing! They are released again through exercise, and are responsible for the euphoric feeling of a "runner's high" (I don't know what that feels like - I don't run), but they can also be released when eating chocolate or meditating. Imagine the amount of endorphins released when we engage in mindful dancing practices, such as posiDance!
Our physical feats impact our biology, which in turn impact the way we feel. When we understand our body's reactions to physical stimuli, we can utilise this to our benefit and recreate these feelings mindfully. When you feel frustrated or stressed when dancing, we go against our body's natural biological response to free movement and create more problems than there should be.
Remember that dancing is meant to be fun and freeing, and is when we do it mindfully! Be kind to yourself and love your body for all that it does for us. We owe our happiness to our biological responses!
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