Dancing through depression in beach therapy

山東 王百全

Julia Vishnepolsky believes every move serves a purpose.While listening to music on headphones,Vishnepolsky dances out emotions to reduce stress and get rid of anxiety.Her father died unexpectedly nine years ago and she realized dancing helped her deal with her emotions with sadness.She was able to understand herself better through dancing.It started as a hobby but turned into a profession.

Julia took a dance movement therapy,got a degree in clinical mental health counseling and dedicated herself to expressive art therapy and dance movement.

With other dancers,she studied the strong inner connection between body movement and emotions.They learned to use music and dancing to get rid of depression,relieve stress and get over childhood traumas（精神創傷）.

Every Monday,hundreds of people come to the beach.With music playing on their headphones,they practice dance therapy.The therapist shows the movement as people are trying to express themselves through dance and leave their pain on the beach.When they dance,they feel free and open.

“I feel as if the stress that I'm feeling begins to wash away.It feels ceremonial（儀式的）.Sometimes you will do cry in emotional release.It's a space where you can come and feel everything.It is free,just like nobody's around me,and I'm just dancing.I'm just in the ocean.I'm splashing（戲水）there.It's awesome,”says Julia.

For passers-by,it may seem like a musical dance club on the beach.Electric violinist and DJ Dave Kim says he enjoys playing for the patients.Three years ago he had a stroke.A blood clot in his brain made the right side of his body paralyzed.So he had to work really hard to reconnect his brain to his body.And once he did that,he made it.

Vishnepolsky also gives music therapy classes in assisted living facilities.She says it helps the elderly deal with loneliness.Dancing works no matter what mood you're in.

“People may say that they don't feel like dancing,but that's exactly when they should dance,”she added.

Try to find the effects of dancing therapy according to the text.

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