Image by Jill Wellington
InnerSelf's Daily Inspiration
June 21-22-23, 2024
The focus for today, and the weekend, is:
I move my body and dance in order to reduce stress,
lower inflammation, and promote brain health.
Today's inspiration was written by Lana Ruvolo Grasser:
Stress and trauma live in the body. So it makes sense that, through guided practices, movement can be leveraged to tell stories, embody and release emotions and help people “move” forward. Body movement in and of itself is known to have a multitude of benefits – including reducing perceived stress, lowering inflammation in the body and even promoting brain health.
Our research and that of others are showing that dance and movement therapy can build self-worth, improve the ability to regulate emotions and reactions and empower to overcome obstacles. Much like yoga and meditation, dance and movement therapy has, at the root of its practice, a focus on deep breathing through the diaphragm.
Dance and movement therapy may be effective and appropriate for child, adult and elderly patients. And for both healthy individuals and patients, dance and movement therapy was most effective for reducing the severity of anxiety. Research from our team has also shown promise for the benefits of dance and movement therapy in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
CONTINUE READING:
Today's inspiration was adapted from the InnerSelf.com article:
Can You Dance Away Your Anxiety, Depression and Deeper Psychological Wounds?
Written by Lana Ruvolo Grasser, Wayne State University.
Read the complete article here.
This is Marie T. Russell, co-publisher of InnerSelf.com, wishing you a day of moving your body and dancing (today and every day)
Comment from Marie: I love to dance. Dancing is such a freeing activity. I'm not talking here about choreographed dance, or dances that have specific steps to follow. I'm referring to letting your body move to music, letting your spirit soar, and letting the joy that resides inside your being come out and shine. You can dance while doing housework, while at your standing desk, or other situations. Let your heart and spirit dance, and let your inner child come out to play. Dancing like the free spirit that your really are will reenergize you and heal you.
Our focus for today: I move my body and dance in order to reduce stress, lower inflammation, and promote brain health.
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RELATED BOOK: Nothing Can Stop You
Nothing Can Stop You: A Revolutionary Guide to Unleash Your Authentic Self
by Erin Rachel Doppelt.
A self-study book that blends Eastern ritual and Western psychology and invites you to bring more happiness practices into your daily life, Nothing Can Stop You shows you how to:
* Manifest your highest soulmate
* Claim a life that fills you up with overflowing gusto and joy
* Overcome decision fatigue and connect to crystalized clarity
* Reshape your connection to regret, grief, fear, and “what if” scenarios
* Learn to support your inner voice
* Choose actions that uncover and align with your most authentic Self
* Lean into your strengths
* Heal negative thought patterns
* Overcome your limiting beliefs with rituals and ceremonies
For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as a Kindle and an Audiobook edition.
About The Author of today's Daily Inspiration
Lana Ruvolo Grasser is a 5th year doctoral candidate (2021) at Wayne State University. She is a member of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic as well as the Jovanovic Lab, and she is co-mentored by Drs. Arash Javanbakht and Tanja Jovanovic. Her NIMH-funded dissertation project, “Biomarkers of Risk and Resilience to Trauma in Syrian Refugee Youth”, seeks to identify possible biological indicators of trauma-related psychopathology in youth exposed to civilian war trauma and forced migration. You can follow her professional works and personal adventures on Twitter, @ScientificRuvvy.
