Benefits of Sensual Movement and Dance for Women

What is it about?

The first scientific research on the effects of a program of sensual movement and dance for women was published recently in the international Journal of Dance, Somatics and Spiritualities in an article entitled “Reconnecting to the Feminine: Transformative Effects of Sensual Movement and Dance.” This scientific research offers new insight into women’s deep curiosity and compelling desire to understand and explore their sensuality, and the confusion, shame and/or repression that often accompany this desire. The findings of the study reveal the physical, emotional, social and spiritual benefits to women of learning a simple, fun and sensual style of free-form movement. Sensual Movement and Dance is a practice similar to martial arts or yoga for awakening, igniting and radiating personal creativity, inner-strength and confidence. The experience of this movement over the 8 weeks -- and in the context of the focused communication of participants with the facilitators and the other women participants -- created noticeable changes in different parts of the participants’ lives including career, motherhood, self-image and relationships. The program blends the mental, cerebral and analytical parts of ourselves, upon which many of us seem to have become too over-reliant, with the more primal, expressive and creative parts of ourselves. Both of these parts are equally valuable in helping us navigate the world around us. Further research will incorporate new assessment methods along with traditional ones to better measure the effects of sensual movement and dance and will apply them to different populations throughout the culture.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This research fulfills the need for the beginnings of research on a topic many times considered either fluffy, inappropriate or ‘taboo’, in American culture. Learning this fun and easy to learn style of movement has shown to be markedly instrumental in creating noticeable, consistent and lasting changes in different parts of womens' lives including career, motherhood, self-image and relationships. Moreover, it provides women with the ability to diffuse, decrease and neutralize negative, fearful or confusing societal charges around their sense of themselves as women. Study participants reported feeling empowered having acquired an effective, simple and most importantly, fun way of re-connecting with an essential, innate, alive part of themselves which can many times go unrecognized and feel deadened or non-existent in the fast-paced, increasingly technological lifestyles so many of women currently live. At it’s most basic, leaning Sensual Movement and Dance helps women feel confident, sensual and alive in the midst of daily routine and busyness.

Perspectives