HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION?

HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION?

Stress free life is impossible. Similarly break free driving also not possible. Break in vehicles are not only to stop vehicle. It is to speed up vehicle. Having known that we have good control over a vehicle through break, we accelerate it. 

Similarly, 

Stress is a physical response of the body that switches to "fight" or 'flight' mode when it thinks it is under attack, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals to protect the person.

There is always a misconception that stress is not good for you. 

Let's break the myth: Stress is not always a bad thing as there are several benefits to it. Moderate stress is normal and in fact, helps build your body's immunity if properly managed.

Stress helps you perform better under pressure and motivates to reach your goal. 

It can help you accomplish tasks more efficiently and can also boost memory. 

But remember:  if you are constantly under pressure, your mind and body may take a toll. A prolonged stressful condition or situation places a huge demand on your body's physical, mental and emotional energy, often leaving you drained. Stress accumulation can ruin your health in the long run. 

Everybody experiences stress, and it is unavoidable. But there are many ways you can be proactive and get rid of the tension that accumulates in the hustle and bustle of everyday life to improve your mood.

From one point of view, we know cultural activities or cocurricular activities in schools such as art, dance.....are meant for beating stress. Absolutely it is not. All are therapies. It cures and cares our soul. Recent research data shows, cancer patients can be taken care by these therapies.

1. Singing

   

Health benefits:

• Singing improves the immune system.

• Singing improves your posture and body language.

• Singing helps with deep sleep

• Singing is a workout for inner organs.

Mental benefits:

• Singing is a natural anti-depressant

• Singing sharpens mental alertness

• Singing improves pyschomotor skills.

• Singing makes time conscious.

• Singing increases hearing, listening strenghths.

• Singing increases sportsman spirit.

Social benefits:

• Singing can widen your circle of friends

• Singing broadens communication skills

• Singing increases your ability to appreciate

2. Dancing a kind of meditation

Close your eyes, relax, breathe, concentrate within…be aware of your forehead, your eyes, your lips, your ears, next focus on your throat, your neck, your spine, your thighs, your calves, your feet. 

Draw your attention to your chest, your breathing, your abdomen, your upper arms, forearms and your hands, one by one.” 

This is what my meditation instructor tells me – “look within, let the thoughts flowing in your mind slowly go away – pull your attention back within”. 

And with every bit of yours concentrating on doing this – And finally you are able to achieve ten minutes of complete solitude and peace, focusing within, being aware of myself, my body parts, my breathing. 

A certain calmness takes over and you arr completely steady and still for a while. Now you have connected with yourself. 

Surprisingly dance has the same effect. Dance is a medidation, yoga and a journey from inner world to outer world. It is a complete workout.

3. Meditation 

Benefits:

• Sound sleep

• Improve mood

• Relieve stress

• Reduce anxiety

• Increase focus

• Improve cognition

• Reduce tobacco cravings

• Improve pain response

• Control high blood pressure

• Improve heart health

• Reduce inflammation

• Give peace of mind

• Connect creator

• Keep mind calm and cool

• Give quality thought process

• Connect souls

• Reduce distractions

• Help in decision making

• Widen analytical thinking

4. Arts on Learning:

The Impact of the Arts on Learning that should be noted by every parent, teacher, and administrator:

• The arts reach students not normally reached, in ways and methods not normally used. (This leads to better student attendance and lower dropout rates.)

• It changes the learning environment to one of discovery. (This often re-ignites the love of learning in students tired of just being fed facts.)

• Students connect with each other better. (This often results in fewer fights, greater understanding of diversity, and greater peer support.)

• The arts provide challenges for students of all levels. (Each student can find his/her own level from basic to gifted.)

• Students learn to become sustained, self-directed learners. (The student does not just become an outlet for stored facts from direct instruction, but seeks to extend instruction to higher levels of proficiency.)

• The study of the fine arts positively impacts the learning of students of lower socioeconomic status as much or more than those of a higher socioeconomic status.

• Cosmos Ennu Kwaw - UN Educationist

For centuries, humans have understood the impact that the music, dance and other fine arts can have on the body, mind and soul. Now that we have the technology to track bodily responses like heart rate, brain activity, and breath rate we have proof of that impact. Music and art can reduce stress in so many ways. Of special interest to many people is the impact that the arts have on reducing stress. 

How Does Music ,Dance and Fine Arts Reduce Stress? 

Countless studies have shown that participating in music , dance and fine arts can manage stress and promote wellness. It also gives a way for people to express their feelings in a safe way especially when they can’t find the words to communicate it. 

Becoming completely engaged with your music, dance or fine arts making can also lower stress levels similar to the way meditation improves focus. Additionally, listening to slow quiet music can relax the mind and body by slowing the pulse and decreasing the levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormones.

HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION

• Priti Kaushik - UN Educationist

It helps a lot. My son last year, was in class10. The ill fated 28th July, I had almost lost him to depression. He never showed any symptoms. But internally I believe he was broken. 

We are very kind parents who are ready to share with n listen to him. But he never liked our friendly attitude and wanted us to be reserved like other parents. 

However, he landed up in the hospital on 28th July with severe epilepsy attack. He had no pre history though. After 3 days he came to consciousness and when he was back he devoted himself to Music n football completely.  

He is absolutely fine now. Coping up well n finding solace n peace in music and games. That is the power of music n sports in healing.

Music, Art or Dance, or be it any such soft skill, it has been noticed that these things do what meditation does to a child. Nowadays it is very difficult to explain to children to meditate, but if they pickup any such soft skill they automatically not only meditate but also connect with themselves. They get time to introspect themselves and once they are able to do so they become sympathetic towards themselves and start having empathy towards others. All the emotions, which otherwise were dead while playing games on computers with going on killing anybody who comes in the way, thinking that he will use his lifeline or will come back to life, somewhere has a negative impact on the child's thinking process where the child seems to become destructive and emotionless(PERSONAL OPINION). But speaking about music etc., it brings out whatever is lying dormant. It brings out all his emotions and then the child learns to love the world, to see the other world. There was an era where we had all rap music and if you see today how the music has changed. Listen to Ritwiz or Jubin Nautiyal or Anup Jain, people have started loving these music obviously for some reason. Hence all the soft skill arts like music, dance or any other art form helps a child to develop holistically and to connect with himself, with the world, with the nature and live in harmony with all.

HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION

• Ruchi Jain - UN Educationist

I would like to share my experience with you all. In 2020 during the pandemic I had attended a webinar on the topic ' Mental health and human phycology- during Covid19 spread '. At the conclusion we all participants were asked to paint or sketch,  or any other form of art that we would like to spend our time doing. First of all, to my amazement I spent 5-6 hours sketching.  (During that time we all were incurring the covid outbreak) Those hours had helped me with preventing my over thinking and stress due to the ongoing problem,   but also healed  my soul too.

A government sponsored Raga Research Center, Claims that intense research proves that Raga Shankarabharanam aids to cure mental illness: Ananda Bhairavi has a positive effect on hypertension, Bilahari reduces stomach problems, and Bhairavi reduces back pain.

HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION

• Dr. Balasubramanian - UN Educationist

Drawing and paintings are like an another langauge, with one picture speaks 100 words and expressions too, where some time words fails, where drama helps,  expression speaks than words do. 

Each tools have pros and cons, no need to Compare. Students mainly from 9-10-11- 12 or after too very stesses and sure arts, drawing music, playing drums, veena..... All induce mind calm and relax the body and mind. 

So we have to give a room, space for them to exercise, and not making them  as marks production unit . 

Many school dropouts too shine wel later. 

Schools is a platform to to built a charactor, discipline, friendship, behaviour,langauge communication extra then score or not score in the exams.

HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION"

• Namagiri - UN Educationist

I will share my experience. Once all the students who got very low Mark's in 11th std were put in one class for 12th as Intensive care class. In that class I had all problamatic students. One student who used to torture all the teachers. I was handling chemistry for that class.One day I took case history of all the students. I found that student who commented and gave problem to the teachers is very good in playing drums. I just appreciated that boy and I told him that you are going to play drums in the school Assembly when our class get the chance. He hesitated first and then told yes. He played the drums very nicely. I appreciated him in front of all the students and slowly he changed to maintain his publicity and  stopped commenting in all the classes and started focussing in his studies. Seeing this boy other students slowly changed their attitude.Now he is a famous Advocate.

HOW MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER FINE ARTS GIVE PEACE TO STRESSED MIND AND PROVIDES CONSTRUCTIVE RELAXATION

• Rajesh T - UN Educationist

Right from our ancient times, it can be observed that even the rulers of big empires indulged in acts of watching dancers exhibit their dancing skill and musicians exhibit their musical talents. These were the time for relaxing as far as these rulers were concerned. So it is a clear indicator that dance/music were used by the rulers to relieve themselves of their stress and relax. 

Now coming to present times, we can very well realize how some soothing music, elegant dance forms or works of fine arts have a mesmerizing effect on our brain causing our brain to relax. When we are indulged in watching such performances we generally go to a state of mind wherein our problems/stress etc. are forgotten atleast temporarily. That is the effect of dance/music/fine arts on our brain.

So it is a fact that dance, music, fine arts etc can really assist a person to be relieved of stress and act as a calming agent of a troubled mind. So we can use any of these to help overcome stress.

Infact the body produces feel good hormones like serotonin or other calming down hormones such as dopamine, endorphin etc. when we are enjoying music/dance etc. This is the biological impact of these art forms.