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Post date: Nov 21, 2014 1:04:03 AM
Was reading this article by Dr Kenneth Hansraj about how stooping over mobile phone while texting can lead to back problems.
My mind naturally wandered to the implications to tango... and the tendency for dancers (particularly leaders) to look down at their feet while dancing. Apart from the obvious lack of elegance a stooped head imparts, it's definitely not good for the health of your back!
The article also led me to ponder on how dancing tango (with correct posture) can be so very beneficial to one's physiological and emotional health. The following excerpt says it all...
'Standing tall doesn't just make you look better, it optimizes your health, too. Other studies have found good posture elevates testosterone and serotonin in the body, and also reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Good posture has even been linked to personality traits such as tolerance for risk-taking.
People who have poorer posture often have poorer physical and emotional health. The researchers define bad posture as "the head in a tilted forward position and the shoulders dropping forward in a rounded position."
Bad posture has been linked to a host of medical problems, including headaches and other neurological problems, depression, constipation, and heart disease. At a minimum, constant slouching is likely to cause a lot of chronic pain.'
One thing that always amazes me when dancing in Buenos Aires is how good the posture of so many elderly tango dancers is. Their dancing certainly helps to keep their backs straighter than their non dancing counterparts!
So next time you are dancing and notice your head stooped down, remember to lift your head! Release the burden off your spine - not just for the sake of 'elegancia' but for your physical and emotional wellbeing!
image by Veronique Paquette
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