Dance in Thai style: good for the (heart) mind away from disease

Published on Creative Thailand Magazine.

Dance in Thai style: good for the (heart) mind away from disease 18 min. Read | 28th February, 2021 | 5 k Spending the time sitting and lying down at home, running out of chance to go to the gym during the COVID-19 epidemic, including the advancement of technology that allows us to move the body just by poking the finger to buy products or order food through mobile applications or use the hand to pick the hangers and choose the colors of the clothes for wearing and staying at home cause sedentary behavior which is considered dangerous behavior that can result in various diseases.

All about behaviors Sedentary behavior is derived from the Latin word “Sedere” meaning “to sit”. It is referred to sitting while doing activities whether sitting for working or lounging. The examples of sedentary behaviors include watching TV, playing computer, or riding on the bus along with conducting the activities that consume less than 1.5 METs of energy.

According to the statistics around the world, almost 31% of people aged 15 and over have insufficient physical activity classified into 28% male and 34% female. 3.2 million people died from insufficient physical activity are found each year. Especially in Southeast Asian countries, 19% of females and 15% of males have inadequate physical movement. According to the 2015 Health and Welfare Survey, only 42.4% of Thai people aged 18 and over had adequate levels of physical activity following the recommendations of the World Health Organization while 33.8% had very less sedentary behavior. Inadequate physical activity causes many negative effects on health.

In addition, the survey results of the behaviors of Thai people revealed that various sedentary behaviors were one of the reasons why Thai people become overweight and obese for 30%. It also causes 4 chronic diseases; diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cancer in combination for 25%.

‘Khon Dance’ helps flatting belly In order to prevent the body from absorbing the sedentary behavior until getting the disease especially obesity, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that we should have at least 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activity per week (including moving to work, taking a walk in the garden, or traveling around) or get at least 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week for good physical and mental health. According to the World Health Organization, physical activity for adults aged 18-64 can reduce mortality from diseases such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, particular cancer, type-2 diabetes, mental health (decreasing anxiety and depression), health and sleep. It also helps reducing obesity.

Lately, in the project to study the level of physical activity of ‘Khon activity’ through the data collection of electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyograpram (EMG), and the amount of oxygen consumption. These were jointly studied between the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness by Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University. It is found that the Khon dancing gestures can help in brain development. It results in harmonious functioning in many parts including vision, movement sequence as well as listening to rhythm in correspondence with the dance gestures. This is the training for many parts of the brain to function at the same time.

The study of this matter is to collect data from the sample group on the Khon performance, Episode of building the road. This is the episode when Rama ordered the monkey soldiers to help bring stones to fill the sea to build a road into Lanka City for getting back Sita who was captured by Ravana. When analyzing the data of relationships in 3 dimensions; electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyograpram (EMG), and the amount of oxygen consumption, it appears that the giant and the monkey performers who have to act a lot and

put their weight into their posture will have the mean of MET (Metabolic equivalent) or oxygen consumption higher than those who perform the roles of the male and female protagonists not having many gestures clearly. It also shows that the physical activity level of the male and female protagonists is moderate to light while the physical activity level of the monkeys and giants is moderate to rather heavy. It can be said that the physical activity level of Khon performance is moderate.

Dr. Yoschanan Wongsawat, President of the Doctor of Philosophy of the Biomedical Engineering, Mahidol University, and expert of Thai Health Promotion Foundation reveals that the results of this study lead to the conclusion that physical activities in the contexts of Thai classical dance and Khon dance contribute to the brain development, memory development, and emotional development. This is because while dancing, ones can reduce anxiety or negative emotion. The brain is stimulated to work more and the effect of the part

of the brain called Amygdala can be alleviated. This is the main emotional regulator. It creates mental health and it also helps preventing chronic non-communicable diseases and office syndrome. It relaxes and builds muscle strength.

“Having physical activities through the standard classical dance makes the dancers have better mental health. It also helps preventing chronic non-communicable diseases and office syndrome because each movement of the Thai classical dance, Khon dance, and Muay Thai helps moving the muscles as well as making the muscles relaxed and strengthening the body.”

In addition, Dr. Yoschanan also told that Thai music help creating fun activities. It also helps directing the dance gestures and dance movement. It can practice the memory in remembering the dance gestures along with the music. It also yields the relaxation from the stress arising from work in daily life.

Let's dance As the Thai classical dancing gestures are the moderate activities, together with the recommendations of the World Health Organization that we should have at least 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activities per week, Thai Health Promotion Foundation then creates the video series of “Thai rhythm, rhythm of heart” in order to disseminate the dance and gestures that have been designed from the Thai way of life. It comes as an alternative to provide physical activities available to everyone. It gives both fun and good health. Even those who have never danced or do not know how to dance can easily follow dancing.

The interesting point of this video is the combination of concepts of science, sports, and art through a specially composed melody to have the right rhythm by incorporating traditional

Thai melodies such as Toei Khong which many people in the Northeast are familiar with.

This can be used together with modern melodies and the use of stimulating sounds such as whistles, car horns, computer sounds. These are gathered to make fun rhythm for continuously motivates listeners to be enthusiasm to move their bodies along the rhythm of the music. Ones can dance anywhere, both in narrow spaces and large spaces in the house, in the office, or anywhere. It is easy to understand and not boring. This activity is also easy for children or the elderly to participate in and it can be done every day.

The contents of the song tell people to exercise by dancing. It is good for the heart and makes the body healthy under the combination of scientific information, Thai language and rhythm that has been studied through many Thai folk songs such as Ram Ma Si Ma Ram, Patipak song (song sung with the interaction between men and women using wits towards each other), Lam Tad Song, Choy Song for selecting the words to be used matching the rhythm of the song.

Some parts of the content include rap verse to be added for fun. The composers also found a connection between modern rap songs, Lam Tad Song, and Thai barcarole with the same melody touching making the song even more interesting.

Set the time to be ready and then exercise your body, mind, and memory leading to the development of body and breath altogether. Follow the dance clip at https://youtu.be/Z44RmCKFIiA Photos: Thai Health Promotion Foundation Source: Article of Sedentary behavior increases risk factors for cancer development in Veridian EJournal, Science and Technology, Silpakorn University, Volume of July – August, 2018, by Thiti Yanpreechaseth Project to study the level of physical activities from Khon activities by the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, Thai Health Promotion Institute and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University Story: Benjawan Rattanawichit, Phatra Phatchanee TAGS: #Design #Creativity #Creative Business