02/19/2026
Dancing and your nervous system
Dancing has always been a part of our culture, from traditional rituals to celebrations, it is something that widely appeals to people from all walks of life.
It is also highly associated with good physical health, but most people don’t know that dancing can affect their mental health, too.
Whether it’s salsa, ballroom, folk, modern jazz, hip-hop, or just freestyle movements, dancing can give people many benefits.
Dancing, shaking and other movements allow you to express yourself and let loose. When someone feels free, the body releases happy hormones like dopamine. This hormone helps lift a person’s mood and alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Added bonus is that researchers found that people who engage in dances that involve the sense of touch show a significant reduction in the levels of stress and anxiety, hence improving overall mental well-being.
Other studies show that dance helps reduce stress, increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin, and helps develop new neural connections, especially in regions involved in executive function, long-term memory, and spatial recognition.
When is your favourite time to dance?
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PS this is by no means universal to every person’s situation. This is simply my personal experience and opinions based on the research I’ve done.
Comment RESET to start your gentle movement journey and no you don't have to walk barefoot in snow!!!