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Physical & Mental Health for Indian Classical Dance

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Physical & Mental Health for Indian Classical Dance Balaji Deekshitulu P V, AJHC, 2019; 2:9 Review Article AJHC 2019,2:9 American Journal of History and Culture (ISSN:2637-4919) Physical & Mental Health for Indian Classical Dance Balaji Deekshitulu P V Homeopathy & Alternative Medicine Physician and Counseling Psychologist, Sri Balaji Homeo Clinic, Tirupati, A.P, India.cell:8885391722 / 7207255557. ABSTRACT Dance provides an active, non-competitive form of exercise *Correspondence to Author: that has potential positive effects for physical health as well as Balaji Deekshitulu P V mental and emotional wellbeing. Dance therapy is based on the Homeopathy & Alternative Medi- idea that body and mind are co-relational. The therapeutic ap- cine Physician and Counseling Psy- proaches with various forms of Indian dances are a new entrant chologist, Sri Balaji Homeo Clinic, to dance literature. Ayurveda held dance as a power of healing Tirupati, A.P, India.cell:8885391722 (therapy) and inner awareness (psychology). Indian philosophy / 7207255557. also supports the facts of Sangeet (song, dance and music) for benefit of human health physically as well as mentally. The pow- erful dance form of Bhangra (Punjab), Karagam (Tamilnadu), How to cite this article: Chou, Rayabese, Dhali (West Bengal) gives good health and Balaji Deekshitulu P V. Physical & strength. The fast footwork of Kathak dance helps to release Mental Health for Indian Classical anger and tension. Manipuri dancers make rounded movements Dance. American Journal of History and avoid any jerks, sharp edges or straight lines. It gives them and Culture, 2019,2:9. undulating and soft appearance, proper body control and peace of mind. All these body movements, body balancing, expression, muscle movement, muscle constriction and relaxation have a strong effect on therapeutic movements. In India today the dance therapists are conscious about this matter and in therapeutic eSciPub LLC, Houston, TX USA. sessions they actually improvise different dance movements ac- Website: http://escipub.com/ cording to the need. Keywords: Indian classical dances, Mental and physical illness AJHC: http://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 1 Balaji Deekshitulu P V, AJHC, 2019; 2:9 Introduction impressions of different feelings and emotions, and so are eyebrows, nose, cheek, chin, neck, Dance is a performing of art; Dance is the head, limbs, etc. It also holds different body movement of the body in a rhythmic way, (torso) movements, hand gestures, movement usually to music and within a given space, for of different body parts in its actual directions the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, and their effects on dance as well as human releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the body and mind (Shastri, 1931). In modern India movement itself. Dance is combine such types of works are in a very nascent performance of Yoga, Mudras. stage. Some organizations and Institutes are Dance Therapy: Indian Perspective being involved to do some work for betterment Dance therapy is specialized and of life by dance therapy. psychotherapeutic use of dance for the Indian classical dance, or Shastriya Nritya, is improvement of cognitive, behavioral and an umbrella term for various performance arts physical conditions. Dance therapy is based on rooted in religious Hindu musical theatrestyles, the idea that body and mind are co-relational, whose theory and practice can be traced to the that the physical state of the body can affect the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. The Sangeet emotional and mental wellbeing both positively Natak Akademi recognizes eight – and negatively (Quin, Redding & Frazer, 2007). Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kat In western world dance has been used for long hakali, Sattriya, Manipuri and Mohiniyattam.so time as therapy for patients, whether alternate me dances are traditionally regional, all of them or complementary. include music and recitation in local language The relationship of health with various types of or Sanskrit, and they represent a unity of core dances is of great interest now-a-days. Indeed, ideas in a diversity of styles, costumes and the approach of therapy is maintained in India expression. Indian classical dance is made knowingly or unknowingly from a very long from India and classical dance is played by time. Ayurveda held dance as a power of various actors. healing (therapy) and inner awareness Dance (psychology). Indian philosophy also supports State the facts of Sangeet (song, dance and music) Bharatanatyam Tamil Nadu Bihu Assam for benefit of human health physically as well as Bhangra Punjab mentally (Shastri, 1931). The Natyashastra, a Bihar, Orissa, W. Bengal Chhau millennium old Indian treatise, seems to be the and Jharkhand Garhwali Uttaranchal first in recognizing the two-fold importance of Garba Gujarat psychology in connection with the production of Hattari Karnataka a natya (drama), comprising of geet (song), Kathak North India badya (music) and nritya (dance). According to Kathakali Kerala the Natyashastra,among the four techniques of Kutchipudi Andhra Pradesh Khantumm Mizoram representation (abhinaya), such as gestures Karma Madhya Pradesh (angika), words (vacika), make-up (aharya) and Laho Meghalaya the sattva (sattvika), the angika consists of Mohiniattam Kerala Mando Goa physical representation by using various Manipuri Manipur gestures and postures (Ghosh, 1967). The Nati Himachal Pradesh eyes have different kinds of glances depending Nat-Natin Bihar upon the expressions of psychological states Odissi Orissa Laho Jammu &Kashmir (bhava) and sentiments (rasa). Eyeballs are Mohiniattam Karnataka also liable to similar changes to create AJHC: http://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 2 Balaji Deekshitulu P V, AJHC, 2019; 2:9 The Natya Shastra is the foundational treatise • Abhinaya draws out the bhava (mood, for classical dances of India and this text is psychological states) attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Dance is an enjoyable health Muni.6000 BC The text, states Natalia Lidova, promoting physical activity This physical describes the theory of Tāṇḍava dance (Shiva), activity appeals to some who may not be active the theory of rasa, of bhāva, expression, and therefore may be another alternative of gestures, acting techniques, basic steps, exercise. Dance for health has become an standing postures – all of which are part of important factor in the prevention, treatment Indian classical dances. and management in several health All classical dances of India used similar circumstances. It is not only significant for symbolism and rules of gestures your physical health but it also contributes to in abhinaya (acting). The roots of abhinaya are your mental health and subsidizes social found in the Natyashastra text which defines communication. Dance is an art which is drama in verse 6.10 as that which aesthetically learned from many cultures. Types arouses joy in the spectator, through the of dance can entail body movements, medium of actor's art of communication, that expression and collaboration. helps connect and transport the individual into a Health benefits of dancing super sensual inner state of being.A Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of performance art, asserts Natyashastra, all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range connects the artists and the audience of physical and mental benefits including: through abhinaya (literally, "carrying to the spectators"), that is applying body-speech-mind • improved condition of your heart and lungs and scene, wherein the actors communicate to • increased muscular strength, endurance the audience, through song and music. Drama and motor fitness in this ancient Sanskrit text, thus is an art to • increased aerobic fitness engage every aspect of life, in order to glorify • improved muscle tone and strength and gift a state of joyful consciousness. • weight management The communication through symbols is in the • stronger bones and reduced risk of form of expressive gestures (mudras or hastas) osteoporosis and pantomime set to music. The gestures and • better coordination, agility and flexibility facial expressions convey the ras(sentiment, • improved balance and spatial awareness emotional taste) and bhava (mood) of the • increased physical confidence underlying story. In Hindu classical dances, the • improved mental functioning artist successfully expresses the spiritual ideas • improved general and psychological by paying attention to four aspects of a wellbeing performance: • greater self-confidence and self-esteem • Angika (gestures and body language), • better social skills. • Vachika (song, recitation, music and In Bharata Natyam, the Classical Dance of rhythm), India, approximately fifty-five • Aharya (stage setting, costume, make up, root mudras (hand/finger gestures),24 types of jewelry), Asamyuta Hastas in Kuchipudi, 28 types of • Sattvika (artist's mental disposition and mudras in Kathak,470 mudras of kathakali, 24 emotional connection with the story and of mohiniattam are used to clearly audience, wherein the artist's inner and communicate specific ideas, events, actions, or outer state resonates). creatures in which thirty-two require only one hand, and are classified as `Asamyukta Hasta', AJHC: http://escipub.com/american-journal-of-history-and-culture/ 3 Balaji Deekshitulu P V, AJHC, 2019; 2:9 along with twenty-three other primary mudras ... Therapeutic Value of Indian Classical classical dances. The development and Dances evolution of Indian dance is intrinsically A very little knowledge
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