Tahitian Dance London

8 Advantages Of Taking A Tahitian Dance Class

Originated in an island of the Pacific Ocean, Tahitian dance, also known as Ori Tahiti, is an artistic expression that represents the life and movement of the Tahitian civilisation. From its rhythmic dance steps, beautiful costumes, and enchanting music, this art form keeps on spreading all over the world, and more and more people are enjoying this dance.

So whether you want to learn the Tahitian dance for leisure or for work out, here are some of the great things that you can expect from it.

Boosts your mood
It's actually not just your imagination when you feel like your spirits are lifted when you dance. Socialising with friends and connecting with your partner through Polynesian dancing can promote the release of the feel-good hormones oxytocin and serotonin. Plus, research has shown that touching a loved one, which you'll do while you sway your hips on this dance, lowers your blood pressure and pulse—two things that can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Strengthens bones
Considered as a great way to boost muscle strength and increase bone mass, Polynesian dance can help those who suffer from low bone density. Certain dance steps, especially those that get you moving from side to side, improve the strength of your tibia, femur and other leg bones—which bear the majority of your body's weight. By building up your bone mass, you can ward off or slow down the progression of osteoporosis.

Boost your mind
Boosting your memory is also one of the best things about Polynesian dance. Memorising the steps is only part of the dance, as you can also learn the meanings of the movement when studying the dance, as well as the stories, myths and legends behind it.

Improves your overall health and well-being
Polynesian dancing has been shown to help improve not just one's health, but the quality of life too. An American Heart Association study shows that older patients who suffered heart failure, and who subsequently enrolled in a Polynesian class, had improved oxygen levels, artery elasticity and other cardiac indicators compared to people who did other forms of exercise. It's also said that the dancing group got better sleep, reduced anxiety levels, and enhanced sexual activity.

Serves as a mental escape
If you are someone who needs a mental break, Polynesian dancing can offer you the escape that your brain needs. It's a good counter-activity to being stuck on a screen and staying at home. Not unlike a runner's high, the rhythmic movement has been shown to trigger the release of endorphins, which can boost your mood.

Known for keeping the mind sharp, Polynesian dance is also a good mental exercise. A 2011 study found that dancing as you age helps improve cognitive flexibility, known to decline even in high-functioning older adults.

Introduce a new culture
This type of dance is also a great way to learn cultural respect and awareness, especially for foreigners who want to try it. You can learn to understand and speak Hawaiian words as they interpret the lyrics of the songs and chants into dance.

Improve balance and coordination
The ageing population is at high risk for falls, and Polynesian dance can be beneficial in reducing this particular risk because the dance is just a series of balance tests. The techniques involved in Polynesian dance is also beneficial for encouraging low-impact landings and boosting body awareness. These are not only useful for dancers on stage to perform gracefully, but even for athletes who play impact sports, children developing motor skills, and adults concerned about injuries.

Good for the spiritual being
Many of the Hawaiian songs are about nature; the waves, wind, flower, rain, clouds, etc. With this being said, doing Polynesian dancing can help you ease your stress and worries. What's more, visualising and interpreting the words with movement can mentally transport you to the Islands, connect you to nature, and provide a unique spiritual experience. You can also experience the "Spirit of Aloha" by building lifelong friends. In a certain way, the ones you meet in a Polynesian dance can be your "Hula Sisters, Brothers, and Ohana".

With those graceful and smooth movements involved in Tahitian dance, you have the chance to experience and enjoy all the benefits listed in this article. But of course, to do that, you also have to take a lesson from a professional and passionate dance instructor. Ready to tell beautiful stories through movements? Then get yourself a Tahitian instructor right now and enjoy the above-mentioned benefits!