What Is Dance Therapy? How Movement Improves Mental And Physical Health

Dancing is an expressive art. For some people, it is their source of income, while others indulge in it for pleasure. No matter what the reason is, dancing always brings immense joy and causes a burst of happy hormones. Did you know that dance can also heal your body and mind? This is called dance therapy. If you are interested to know more about this form of therapy and its benefits, then this article is definitely for you. 

To get a better understanding of this, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to Dr Pooja Pillai, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

What Is Dance Therapy?

Before diving deep into the benefits of dance therapy, let us tell you what it actually is. “Dance therapy, also known as dance movement therapy, is a form of therapy that uses body movement and dance to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being. It is based on the idea that the mind and body are connected, so expressing feelings through guided movement can help release stress, improve self-awareness, and promote healing in a safe and supportive environment led by a trained therapist,” explains Dr Pillai. 

dance 1

In a dance therapy session, a therapist can help you with the following:

• They can help you explore and understand the link between movement and your emotions.
• They can encourage building awareness of bodily sensations and breathing.
• They might help guide you through self-expressive and improvisational movements.
• They can offer specific movement or verbal therapeutic interventions to aid healing.
• They will assist you in processing your emotions evoked by the movement.

ALSO READ- Cold Plunges vs. Hot Saunas: Which Thermal Therapy Actually Wins? Find Out Here

Mental Health Benefits Of Dance Therapy

On this note, Dr Pillai shares the mental health benefits of dance therapy:

• One of the main health benefits of dance therapy is stress reduction. This is because moving the body to rhythm and music helps lower stress hormones, improve mood, and increase the release of feel-good chemicals like endorphins.
• It also reduces symptoms of anxiety and mild depression.
• It can help people who struggle to express emotions with words by giving them a creative and non-verbal way to communicate feelings.
• In addition, dance therapy can improve confidence and social connection because participating in group sessions builds trust, encourages interaction, and reduces feelings of loneliness.

“This makes it a holistic approach that supports both emotional resilience and physical wellness in a natural and enjoyable way,” adds the expert.

dance 2

Physical Health Benefits Of Dance Therapy

A large meta-analysis regarding dance therapy was published in The BMJ. It examined 218 clinical trials involving over 14,000 participants. The study discovered how dance was more effective at reducing symptoms of depression than walking, yoga, strength training, and some other standard treatments. It further noted, “This does not mean dance replaces therapy or medication. But it highlights something important: movement combined with music and social interaction creates a unique psychological impact. Unlike solitary exercise, dance integrates physical effort with rhythm, emotional expression, and connection. These combined elements appear to amplify its benefits.”

Shedding more light on the physical health benefits of dance therapy, Dr Pillai shares, “It supports physical health by improving flexibility, balance, coordination, and muscle strength.”

dance 3

“Regular movement can improve heart health, posture, and energy levels, especially in children, older adults, or people recovering from illness as gentle guided movement keeps the body active without the pressure of structured exercise routines,” concludes Dr Pillai.

ALSO READ- All You Need To Know About Expressive Arts Therapy

The Final Word

Dance therapy, also known as dance movement therapy, is a form of therapy that uses body movement and dance to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Its benefits include stress reduction, improved heart health, posture, and energy levels, among others.