Studying the arts for your mind, body, and soul

The arts have an incredible ability to feed so many aspects of ourselves. Listening to music, dancing to a song, viewing unique artwork, or sketching a doodle can improve our daily lives. Whether it’s as an outlet, something that inspires us, or a way to express who we are, the impact of the arts is limitless. Here are some ways an arts education can benefit your MIND, BODY, and SOUL.  

MIND

By participating in the arts, you gain many valuable skills and attributes that can improve all aspects of your life. 

• Developing your creativity can help you think outside the box and come up with new ideas. 
• The arts can build confidence as you hone skills and share your work with others. 
• Many art forms push you to be adaptable, as you have to find a way to overcome challenges in your studies. 
• Beyond that, the focus and perseverance required can motivate you to work until a goal is achieved. 

These skills are important to build at a young age as they can help you succeed later in life in a variety of career paths. 

BODY 

The arts also can improve your physical well-being. Dance can help build strength, flexibility, mental concentration, coordination, and musicality. Music helps with coordination and improves dexterity and lung capacity (depending on the instrument of choice). Visual arts can enhance fine motor skills. The more you practice, the more these skills grow. No matter your age, different art forms can engage your body in new ways. 

SOUL 

By engaging in the arts, you are participating in a powerful form of self-expression. It is an amazing outlet to express emotions, feelings, and thoughts on the world around you and share important aspects of yourself. As the world gets busier, it’s important to take time for yourself. 

By participating in the arts, you are creating a space to engage with you. On another level, you are joining a community. An art class is a chance to connect with people who have similar interests. It is a space to socialize and collaborate to accomplish a goal together. Often many of the bonds formed in an art class are strong, as you are sharing important aspects of yourself. Many classes provide the opportunity to take your studies to another level, either through performances or by displaying your work. This also extends the community beyond your classroom to people who love to engage with art. 

Overall, the benefits of the arts are innumerable. Numerous studies have found that the arts can help reduce stress and anxiety by improving you physically and mentally. In our 50 years as an arts organization, we have seen firsthand the power the arts have on people of all ages. Whether you want to continue to grow a skill or try something new, artistic studies are a great place to start. 

Aurora van Roon is the Communications Coordinator at Place des Arts, a not-for-profit, arts education centre located in Coquitlam. Her background is in publishing and marketing, and she is proud to be able to use these skills to support a unique community organization. She is passionate about the arts and is constantly trying out new mediums.