Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy and You!

What are the benefits of dance movement therapy?

The benefits of dance movement therapy have been established and are being explored by The American Dance Therapy Association. This association defines Dance/Movement Therapy as "the psycho therapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual." Those trained in this field are not only dancers and artists, but those who have studied psychotherapy, who use the body in movement as the medium for an individual to discover, grow, and receive diagnosis and healing. Body Movement Therapy is used both for assessment and intervention. This is done in both private practices and clinical settings.
 

The benefits of dance movement therapy include developing new communicative patterns and also integrating emotional growth and physical wellbeing. The work can be done with any age and fitness level, with individuals or groups. Couples can experience the benefits of dance movement therapy with relationship problems and trust in relationships.

Knowing that the body and mind are connected...

Dance/movement therapists work with the body as a direct expression of the unconscious self. The focus is on the development of the healthy parts of the patient as the "foundation for resolving any apparent dysfunction."

Sometimes an individual develops a distorted body perception or emotional disturbance from a stressful and traumatic event that can be relieved by dance/movement therapy and yoga.  As with many kinds of other therapies, dance/movement therapists use body movements to help identify the problems, establish a treatment plan or "contract", and then use the focus to developing new, expressive, adaptive patterns. The benefits of dance movement therapy include powerful innovative interventions that can bridge the gap between traditional cognitive therapy and/or physical treatments. http://www.alternative-healing-online.com/best-alternative-health-care.html 

           http://www.extensionyoga.com/recovery_yoga.asp

One Woman's Story

"Not only was I able to keep my physical body strong, I was able to express myself and able to recover my youthful joy."

Founder of Dance-On, LesLee Ames, was raised by a struggling single mother and had a chaotic childhood wrought with domestic problems. At the age of 12, she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a stranger. Afraid to tell her already fragile family, for fear that she would be punished, or that it would cause even more turbulence; LesLee went untreated until her adulthood.
At the time, there were no advocacy groups, or even any discussion about PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). "The only real saving grace that I had all along was dance and, later, Yoga." 

"I had been doing some form of dance since age 3, and was accepted by a Company, where I practiced daily and learned discipline.  Also, I found some hope and even escape into a world that was free from pain, and often magical. Because I have, and continue, to heal through movement, I am passionate about sharing this modality."
 

Through movement we can recover our health.

The world of dance provided relationships, focus, and inspiration for LesLee.  She went on to study performing arts in college and performed regionally. She continued to study dance in adulthood and attained certification in the NIA technique. Motivated by her sense of healing and joy through movement, she later earned certifications both in Pilates and Yoga. These studies of movement brought forth new levels of discovery, health, and reprogramming.
 

Yoga, Therapy, and Post Traumatic Stress

LesLee, on her journey of recovery, completed a study of PTSD with an international specialist in this field. Continuously, she returned to dance and yoga as a means to further support the process of recovery, which was initiated by the PTSD study.

Yoga is an ancient practice, developed long before psychiatric medications, to still the mind, relax and feel more in control of the body.  It is a means to end suffering, and has helped many individuals, including LesLee.  Because of the tremendous benefits of dance movement therapy, she continues to practice a dance form called Nia.   She also studies yoga as a therapy for emotional well being and follows the research being developed to help individuals use Yoga in therapeutic settings.  To find a Yoga Therapist near you go to:   International Association for Yoga Therapists.

LesLee Ames has coauthored a truly innovative guide using movement and creative self-expression to heal from the effects of Post Traumatic Stress.  Click below to find out more.



 

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