‘Dance therapy reduces stress, boosts self-esteem’

The Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS) orgainsed a lecture on “Dance Movement Therapy” here last week with Odishi dance expert and Panchakarma specialist Dr Biswajit Dash as the speaker of the occasion. The meeting was presided over by AYOS Director Dr Indulata Das.Dr Biswajit Dash said dance is a coordination of body, space, force and movement. There are eight types of classical dances and thousands of folk dances in India. There are specific martial dance art forms like Chhau and Paika.In almost all Indian dances, yogic postures are incorporated. Bhakti or devotion is the main component of Indian dances.“We have many dances, the postures and movements of which have therapeutic values. Dance movement therapy is a new area of exploration.Experiments have shown that dance therapy improves self-esteem, reduces stress and gives a peaceful state of mind. It provides positive energy and gives a sense of completeness and surrender to the Supreme Self. In addition to physical and mental therapy, it also provides emotional therapy.There was a question-answer session after the lecture in which Dr VB Sastri, Dr Bharati Sastri and S Sundar Rajan, among other scholars, participated. Dr Indulata Das, in her presidential address, said dance therapy is a new area and a lot of research is to be done in the field. Dance therapy may prove to be a joyful therapy in the future.

Source:the Pioneer