We’ve all heard the analogy of the oxygen mask in the airplane as applied to ‘self care’. If you don’t put on your mask first, you can’t help others. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t care for others.
Self-care – sometimes referred to as holding space for yourself – comes in many different forms. The point is that these activities refresh and energise, provide us with emotional and creative outlets and, in the end, satisfy our needs first.
After we’ve taken care of the basics (good nutrition, enough sleep, physical activity) our creative outlets such as dancing can energise us and form part of our self care routine. Read on to find out how to incorporate dance into your self care routine and some of the benefits you’ll enjoy by making dance a regular habit.
MAKE TIME FOR YOU
This is a number one priority in any form of self care whether it be time to walk in nature, read a book or give yourself a pedicure! It’s also the number one reason we use for not doing the things that would add to our well being. Not enough time!
In order to make the time for dance classes it’s useful to take a few tips from the many productivity hacks out there, the simplest being to prioritise the things you want to do by scheduling them first!
Here are some tips to help you make it to class every time:
Schedule your classes in your agenda and make a non-negotiable date with yourself! You wouldn’t stand up your best friend would you? You wouldn’t just not turn up to an important work meeting would you? So treat your time to dance with the same importance as other ‘dates’ in your life.
Make going to dance class into a habit. A habit is a routine or behaviour that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. Make sure to pack your dance clothes, water bottle and towel in advance and put them somewhere you can see them to act as a trigger and reminder to go to class.
Staying flexible can also help keep up your self care practise! Sometimes life gets in the way and we just can’t make it to dance class when we want to. Instead of being frustrated and not going to class at all that week, look for gaps in your schedule when you could go to another class. At ZeoT we have same level classes on many days of the week and at different time slots. You can also see this as an opportunity to try something new instead of your regular class. The best way to stay flexible of course is to sign up for the ZeoT Abo which allows you to go to as many classes as you like, whenever you like!
Tell someone you’re going to dance class! Being accountable is one of the best ways to stick to your self care routine! Or why not encourage a friend to join you dancing? You’ll have an extra motivation to come and dance knowing that you’ll see your friend. Why not make an evening of it and go out for a drink or dinner afterwards? There are many great places around the ZeoT Zürich studio, including our partner restaurant Yalda Oriental Cuisine in the Europaallee.
EXPRESS YOURSELF & FOSTER YOUR CREATIVITY
The positive benefits of dance and exercise include relaxation and stress reduction. For an extra stress busting work out why not turn up the heat and join our Shimmy Fit or Dance Fit classes? Being in a group, moving and reacting to the music can also help release different emotions giving you another outlet to express your feelings.
We are all creative beings and expressing our creativity through dance gives us an opportunity to try out new ideas and new ways of thinking and problem-solving. It can also help us acknowledge and celebrate our own uniqueness and diversity and opens a channel to create something from personal feelings and experiences. Why not try improvisation or join a performance project workshop? Check out the upcoming FlamenContempOriental workshop with Rachida and Salima in March 2020.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Good nutrition is an essential part of self care. Make sure your dance experience is optimal by eating well before and after class.
Here are some tips for what to eat to help combat muscle soreness and cramps and keep your energy levels high:
Before class make sure to eat enough protein. It provides the body with the energy that it needs and can be filling in small amounts without making you feel too full to dance! Fruit or vegetables are light, healthy snacks you can mix with a little dairy or protein for more energy. Eat whole grains (carbs) to help fuel the body for long periods of time and make sure to drink water before, during, and after class to avoid dehydration and fatigue. Potassium can help with cramping and muscle soreness so grab a banana!
After class make sure to hydrate well to flush out toxins, help with muscle soreness, and prevent dehydration. Avoid muscle cramping and soreness with foods or drinks high in potassium (raisins, potatoes, bananas, tomato products, cooked spinach, yogurt) and refuel the body after expending so much energy with protein.