It’s Stress Awareness Month
Celebrating Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact of stress on our physical and mental well-being and explore ways to manage it. Stress and poor mental health remain significant challenges, yet many people still separate mental and physical health when they are deeply connected. Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. This month is the perfect opportunity to open conversations about mental well-being and adopt effective stress-management strategies.
April Promo
Buy one class and bring a friend for free.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, PUSH Dance Company is committed to educating people about stress and promoting holistic and healthy dance practices. Stress is a natural response to life’s challenges, and we aim to recognize its impact while highlighting dance as an effective and enjoyable way to reduce it.
How Dance Can Help Reduce Stress
Dance is more than just movement—it’s a form of self-expression, a way to release tension, and a tool for emotional well-being. A UCLA Health study revealed that 98% of participants who engaged in conscious dance reported improved mood, while many also experienced a deeper sense of presence and purpose. Other studies have found that dancing improves mood, boosts confidence, and helps quiet distressing thoughts. Conscious dance, a free-flowing and unchoreographed movement practice, has been found to provide significant mental health benefits. A UCLA Health study revealed that 98% of participants who engaged in conscious dance reported improved mood, while many also experienced a deeper sense of presence and purpose.
The Science Behind Dancing and Stress Relief
When we dance, our bodies release endorphins—often what’s called the “feel-good” hormones—which naturally combats stress and anxiety. The combination of music and movement creates a meditative state, allowing dancers to enter a sense of full immersion and mental clarity in the present moment. This can help reduce overthinking, quiets the mind, and promotes emotional balance.
Additionally, dance encourages deep breathing, improves circulation, and fosters a sense of connection—whether dancing alone or with others. Sharing movement in a group setting can strengthen social bonds, providing additional emotional support and reducing feelings of isolation.
Finding Your Rhythm for a Balanced Life
The beauty of dance lies in its accessibility—no professional training needed. Whether you’re flowing through mat pilates or yoga, grooving to Afropop, energizing with Zumba, or exploring Modern Natya, movement helps us release tension, feel grounded, and recharge. As part of Bay Area Dance Week, PUSH Dance Company is offering free in-person classes and workshops, including the Beat by Beat Workshop with Saharla Vetsch and Grounded Flow with Erik K Raymond Lee. Join us for weekly sessions like GYROKINESIS, restorative yoga, and more—and move through stress with intention and joy.
This Stress Awareness Month, take a moment to prioritize your well-being. Recognize when stress is beyond your control, focus on what you can manage, and use movement as a powerful tool for relaxation and self-care. Put on your favorite song, move your body, and let go of stress.
THE SANCTUARY 447 Minna Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, Ca 94013 (Use callbox to enter)
LINKS:
https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/stress-awareness-month-2025/
https://www.stress.org/news/stress-awareness-month-tips-for-keeping-tensions-in-check/
