What if dance, music and mindfulness practices could help those with MS to regain even the smallest amount of physical function, improve cognition and mood? We know that in Multiple Sclerosis, myelin is lost. According to Dr. Citlali Lopez-Ortiz, an artist and a scientist, when the myelin is lost due to the attacks from the autoimmune system, then the speed of communication between the neurons is lessened and problems arise in coordination, cognition and processing in general.”

According to Lopez-Ortiz, existing medication for multiple sclerosis addresses autoimmune function, but does not address rebuilding lost myelin. She believes that because the patients are able to learn, she and others involved think they might be creating new myelin.

My Health Studio has been practicing corrective movement work for the past 14 years.  It is our mission to improve the lives of our MS population through the use of music, dance, mindfulness practices and other movement modalities that have been backed by published research.

The role of strengthening and cardio-vascular exercise has been well documented as it pertains to improvement of Multiple sclerosis symptoms. However, there has been little attention paid to the benefits derived from both seated and traditional dance. Many studies have been published outlining the efficacy of dance training in inducing brain plasticity, improving mood, physical activity, gait and balance for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. When researched, multiple forms of dance proved to bear fruit in this regard. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine as related to ballroom dance, “…This pilot salsa dance study shows that structured dance demonstrates promise of being well-tolerated, safe and effective at promoting physical activity in people with MS without increased fatigue.”

‍Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine