`````````````````````````````````````````````````Author’s Note I am not a dancer, but I have learned Yoga, aerobics and alternate therapies to attain healthy longevity. All my grandchildren are dancers, they excel in Bharatanatyam – Indian classic dances as well as in modern fusion dancers. Also, one of my grand- daughter – Nikita – learned western yoga which is based on animal poses. My knowledge and benefits of yoga and dance inspired me to write this book on the similarities of both these physical activities. The children are more excited by dance than by yoga or by going to the gym. For that I tried to state that both the activities are good for your workouts. Yoga as your daily workout is known to be extremely beneficial for health, here I try to give some of the benefits which dance gives you in your mental as well your physical health. Eagle Poseis also a very good twist. - Modern Yoga pose to detox body. Facial yoga can help you in it. Yoga can miraculously help you get rid of double chin and fine lines on the face. It’s an easy, fun, and inexpensive solution to tone up your face. This yoga benefits weak eyesight, watery eyes and haziness are very common eye related ailments that we face these days. Along with walking on wet grass barefoot early in the morning, try facial yoga to strengthen eye muscles, improve vision, diminish lines around eyes and prevent sagging of skin around them. Method: i). Without moving head, look to the left as far as possible for 5 seconds. Now repeat similar action by looking towards right, upwards and then downwards. ii). Take note of the sensation of tension in the muscles that move the eyeballs. *Now close your eyes and relax. iii). Rub your palms together till they get warm and then gently place them over eyes to absorb the heat. Repeat a few times. *Exercise is the most important factor for a healthy body and also for the prevention and cure of chronic diseases, including constipation. Exercise helps heal plus improve stamina, immunity strength, endurance, tone and flexibility. Benefits of dance: These days the dancers have started combining classic dances with the daily ‘popping’ exercises. They start learning hip-hop and practice their training exercises for popping every day, so just to combine the two forms. There is now a new interest in the health benefits of Bharatanatyam – it gives a wonderful cardio workout, improves blood circulation, tones muscles and is good for bone density as it is a contact exercise. A number of artists and people connected with dance therapy have given their experiences of the health benefits of Dance.
Dance & Yoga: Like Yoga dance can help with healing. Dance Gurus say dance movements promote healing in number of ways. Moving as a group brings people out of isolation creates powerful social and emotional bonds and generates the good feelings that come from being with others. She also said that memory and imagination are stimulated as you have to remember long sequences and improvise when you forget on stage. Dr. Agarwal, ophthalmologist, says it gives eye muscles a great workout. When the dancer roll her/his eyes from side to side, you are actually using the muscles of the eye, which help in the movement of the eye. artists and people connected with dance therapy have given their experiences of the health benefits of Dance. Dancer and choreographer Anita Ratnam says Bharatanatyam has both physical and mental benefits. The basic stance of araimandi (a squat in which knees are turned sideways) and keeping the torso steady with the hands and lower limbs moving helps with balance as shown in the Ganesh Stuti.
Moving rhythmically eases muscles rigidity too. On a purely physical level, dance therapy provides the benefits of exercise; improved health; wellbeing; co-ordination and better muscle tone. A dancer enjoys dancing on the rhythm of music one should also do the yoga workout on the beat of one’s favorite music. The yoga poses and mudras can be synchronized with classical dance poses and mudras. So for achieving your goal you should have a flexible healthy body. Mudras, Postures, eye exercises and facial exercises go to make you graceful and beautiful. Besides it, the breathing exercises attribute a lot to a healthy and beautiful body. You should be mentally as well physically healthy. All poses and mudras go a long way in rejuvenating and restoring weak parts of the body, says dancer Roja Kannan, “Mudras likeChinhamudra called Hamsasyam in dance, wherein the first finger and the thumb are joined together at the tips and the other three fingers are opened up facilitate the circulation of blood flow from the fingers to the other parts of the body while also having a calming effect on the mind,” she says, adding that arthritis, muscle degeneration, nervous disorders, tennis elbow, tendonitis, and knee ailments can be restored by dance therapy. Dr. A V Satyanarayana, director Shristi center of Performing Arts and Institute of Dance therapy, Dance therapy is based on the premise that the body mind and emotions are interrelated. Dance therapists believe that mental and emotional problems are often held in the body in the form of muscle tension and constrained movement patterns. On an emotional level, it helps people more joyful and confident and allows them to explore verbally on a mental level, dance therapy seeks to enhance cognitive skills, motivation and memory.
Belly dance is coordinated movements. Every muscle in the belly the breasts, the hip and the neck is in play. Dancing is associated with happiness and pleasure. Keeps you in positive attitude, which is good for your health.
Dance and music go hand by hand. Rhythm and melody are components of every kind of music. Even simple nursery rhymes have tune and rhythm For dancing one should acquire strong stretchable, flexible body, good posture and lots of stamina. All these things you can attain by Yoga postures, mudras, pranayama and aerobic exercises. Where there is movement, there is Energy and Time. Action is rhythmic when there is beauty and order in the movement – our bodies, trees and plants follow this pattern. Lord Siva is the lord of rhythm. His rhythm denotes both creation and cosmetic absorption.
Yoga is full of richness with vivid practices for the attainment of self-realization Some yoga poses - Eagle pose, Screaming pigeon, Three legged dog, Cow back posture, Lips to the cow posture Physical exercise and ‘asana’ relieve muscular tension. Physical tension can be relieved by daily practicing a few stretches regularly for 15 minutes. Exercise is the most important factor for a healthy body. God has built our body like a machine. If the parts of the machine are not lubricated and put into action, rust will get hold of it and make it useless. In the same way our body muscles, bones and joints and their connecting links need exercise for toning and flexibility. Thus, to have a healthy active life ’keep moving’.
Redefined Yoga: Bharat Thakur, the founder of artistic yoga says, there’s more than twisting the body into different positions. He has combined the ancient yogic knowledge with sports medicine and exercise physiology to create artistic yoga, a dynamic form of yoga that is gaining popularity in India and worldwide. ‘If one practices this system, one will surely loss weight, be free of many diseases and still have the yogic glow.’ Bharat Thakur explains. By finding small ways to incorporate exercise into your life gradually, you’ll find that you’re setting up a positive path towards life - long fitness. This step –by step program helps you through simple exercises, and guides you to increase your physical activity. Gliding movement of the neck, commonly used in Bharatanatyam, helps treat children born with torticollis, in which the head is tilted to one side. “It is now a standard maneuver in physiotherapy,” says Dr. Johari. He has made a presentation on the link between dance and therapy at the Scoliosis Research society of America. Mudras, Postures, eye exercises and facial exercises go to make you graceful and beautiful. Yoga mudras are used by dancers to convey the meaning of their dance pose. Besides it breathing exercises attribute a lot to a healthy and beautiful body. You should be mentally as well physically healthy. Acquire grace, good posture and balanced body, which will allow you to pursue your hobbies like sports, beauty competition, dancing models etc. Besides, this Glooming is also necessary. Grooming your beauty refers to beauty preparations, massage, patting and plucking. Cherishing your beauty applies to guarding the health of body and mind. Any woman with the intelligence to keep mind and strong healthy body, the time and inclination to keep her body groomed, should be able to attract and look admirable at any age.
Shape up Asana Get in shape with these asana and look your stunning best for your wedding, or doing professional dance. Mastery of each asana takes you beyond a yoni or level of existence. Eyes should remain closed, if open should be focused at one point without any eyeball movement. So, that you do your asana with all concentration. You must always maintain internal awareness The exercises can be practiced at any convenient time of the day. It is good practice to choose the same time each day, if possible, because in doing so, it becomes a habit. Natesha Kavithuvam - (Praise of Lord Shiva); Nataraj with Damaru Natesha Kavithuvam is a dance in praise of Lord Shiva, the third god in the Hindu Trinity.