Ms. Ellen's October Yoga Journal

The Power of Dance and Movement

It has been a joy to do yoga, move, stretch, and dance with the children as we get back into the swing of things this school year. In Dance, offered once a week, we start class with our routine warm-up, which creates predictability and allows the children to build mastery. We often follow this with what we call “Flavor Walks” (movements across the floor), followed by reviewing and learning new steps to various songs.

Dance offers a number of significant benefits to children’s development. In addition to the joyful experience of dancing to music, this non-verbal expression stimulates the production of serotonin and oxytocin while reducing cortisol levels, which helps relieve stress. Moreover, dance requires cross-patterning: movements that engage both the right and left hemispheres of the body and brain. Rhythmic and coordinated steps provide an excellent way to enhance these skills and improve bilateral symmetry. This integration is crucial for developing complex thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Along with these benefits, practicing dance also enhances children’s coordination and timing. Dance routines often involve patterns and sequences that children must remember and execute, which improves their timing and overall motor skills.

Stay tuned for more updates next month!

Namaste,
Ms. Ellen