Dance as a Remedy of Lifestyle Medicine, a Cultural-psychophysiological Approach

Dance is a traditional element of cultural-psychophysiological homeostasis. The chapter approves the role of dance in maintaining mental and bodily health. As dance is deeply cultural by its nature, it is worth extending its framework of healing from social-psychophysiological towards the cultural. The chapter explores the cultural, social, psychological, and bodily benefits and homeostatic functions of dance in an age of sedentary lifestyle. Sedentarism proved to be a silent killer responsible for increased cardiovascular, oncological morbidity and mortality; therefore, one should explore the lifestyle medical gains of dance along the whole life course. We explore the PNI-related and neurological aspects of endocrine functions of active muscle and its role in the prevention of chronic diseases and ageing. Dance also proved to be beneficial in mental health problems. We pay special attention to Hungarian folk dance revival, the so-called Táncház (Dance House) movement, and its practical potential in physical and psychological health protection, social skill development, gender socialization, and personal development.