How does art respond to the recent turn toward wellness?

Introduction

The connection between wellness and arts is a thing that has been practiced for many years. To be specific, the artistic creativity is confirmed to be applied to promote healthiness on depressed and sick individuals.  For instance, creativity is presently recognized as a potent mind-body method for addressing various life-based challenges. In connection to the above information, the advantages of using arts in treatment and healing are clearly recorded over the past years. In this case, the arts seem to facilitate the process of resolving loss issues and grief, thereby, enhancing self-awareness via artistic expression (Greenspan et al. 528).  Still, the art is helpful in bringing about a sense of better mental health, relief,and overall wellness. Furthermore, creativity also plays a role in encouraging dialog as well as establishing a conducive environment for assertiveness (Melzack et al. 239).  Indeed, this paper will provide a comprehensive understanding of different forms of arts utilized to enhance well-being include dancing, music, writing, stories,and pictures among others. 

Historical Context

Wellness is a contemporary word that started to become popular between the 1950s to 1970s during the leadership and writing for the informal networks of thinkers and physicians. Based on the above information, wellness is seen as wording with primordial roots since its concept are closely linked with several religious, medical, and intellectual movements those took place in Europe and in the United States (Arnheim 254). On the other hand, the principles of wellness can be drawn from the earliest civilizations of Rome, Asia, Rome,and Greece; the countries with historical customs that ineradicably influence the present wellness movement. In relation to the above information, the healthcare givers have started to appreciate the influence of creative arts on the remedial process(Greenspan et al. 535). For example, the University of Florida is among the institutions that have successfully incorporated arts in their medicine program in order to enhance client’s wellness. As a matter of fact, it is clear that art is playing a vital role in promoting healthiness. 

Creative Arts Affecting Wellness

Dance 

There are many forms of creative arts influencing wellness. For instance, the increasing interest is accompanied by numerous body and mind benefits, hence, ending up enhancing the healthiness of motor activity. First, the movement-based imaginative expression is confirmed to promote the physical body because it acts as a healing or psychotherapeutic tools. At this point, the dance makes the body and mind to move in a creative manner, a thing that, in turn,relieves anxiety and stress. According to Sandel et al. (304), the dance and movement program have a greater implication on shoulder function, and quality of life and body image among other health complications relating to breast cancer. To illustrate, these authors arrived in this finding after carrying out research involving 35 ladies who participated in the study meant to determine the relationship between healing and dance (Sandel et al. 7). Conversely, the study by Sandel and fellows denotes that dancing and body movement have the capability of coping up with patients’ emotional and physical needs, hence, promoting their healthiness. 

Music

The inclusive evaluation of the therapy literature carried out in between 1983 to 1990 shows that the prerecorded music has a remedial effect on patients since it helps in minimizing stress as well as boosting wellbeing. Irrespective of the existence of many scholarly materials covering the topic about music therapy, hence, indicating that some people receive psychological healing after listening to music. On the same note, the researchers have used behavioral research methodologies such as multiple baseline and reversal tactics to determine the association amid music and wellness. These scholars find that music is broadly utilized to minimize pain resulting from a disease like chronic cancer. Correspondingly, these philosophers have identified various benefits of utilizing music therapy while handling patients suffering from cancer (Bolwerk 64). In the first place, this form of art is believed to facilitate the process of controlling and promoting healthiness and wellness; enhancing immunity; reducing physical and psychological adverse signs, and minimizing anxiety. Besides, other studies show that the use of music during medications plays a vital role in reducing anxiety as well as bringing about body relaxation. To illustrate, during this study, the individuals suffering from varied sicknesses were randomly assigned to a control group, relaxation or music therapy (Teague 83). However, the music and relaxation groups were involved in three sessions during the study period. The depression was then assessed through apical heart rates, cardiac complications, qualitative patient evaluative, and peripheral temperatures data. The results of this research reveal that the peripheral temperatures were higher and apical heart rates were lower on patients subjected to music therapy and relaxation. Similarly, the music is also considered to enhance the lives of individuals with myocardial infarction. In relation to the above point, the aspect of listening relaxation music for approximate 20 minutes contributes to the reduction in respiratory rate, myocardial oxygen demand, and heart rate(Bolwerk 69). More importantly, the notion of listening to music for about an hour can also help to minimize anxiety. However, the researchers highlight that active music may be suitable for enhancing mood among ladies recovering from an intimate misunderstanding from their partners. 

Still, the professional offering supportive care also argues that there are several benefits experience through listening musing in hospital settings. To be specific, these physicians state that music has been used during the healing process since it brings about relaxation feelings. For instance, the research carried out in Westminster and Chelsea Hospital have shown the differences between application and nonuse of art intervention in various healthcare units(Teague 85). In the illustration, the participants placed in rooms with music have portrayed higher changes of clinical improvements as it is indicated in the vital signs; needing less medication,  and reducing cortisol linked with stress as well as reduced sleep. Nevertheless, there is confidential information dictating that the music have the capability of minimizing hospital stays(Bolwerk 70). In confirmatory, the researchers disclose that most of the patients who form a habit of listening to the music are normally discharged earlier than those who do not listen to relaxation songs. 

Pictures

The pictures also formof creative arts that help in promoting wellness. According to Rudolf Arnheim, the photography is confirmed to have a perceptual psychological implication on patients suffering from different types of diseases. In connection to the above point, there are several reasons that prove that photography is an effective tool for promoting healthiness. First, the photography offers people with the opportunity to explore the world in an objective manner. In this case, photography reveals to people the manner into which they live, hence, ensuring that individuals do not depend on guarded thoughts (Monti et al. 364). Owing to the above information, the persons suffering from certain issues start being mindful of the things around them as well as being considerate about activities that go against their way of thinking (Arnheim 176). Essentially, the aspect of developing photography mindfulness is therapeutic since it reveals things people could have not known. 

Moreover, photography is used as a device for enhancing self-expression. To be specific, the images can effectively portray the personal actual psychosomatic state as well as displaying personal and actual feelings. Alternatively, photography enables people to have their real understanding. Generally, the above notion is an actual therapeutic since it aids people to liberate themselves from things that were not formerly understood(Melzack et al. 241). Still, images help individuals to see more profoundly and to be considerate about things they observe, think, feel, and hear. As a matter of fact, there is confidential information showing that individuals use the picture to ask questions that in turn enlighten them about certain complicated and confusing things(Arnheim 196). Indeed, the above case stands for therapeutic because it enhanced people’s learning and understanding, hence, ending up being healed from the experienced challenges or physical pain as well as depression. 

On the images aid, people to advance their daily experiences as well as unleashing creative and artistic skills. To be specific, individuals are able to change their ordinary behaviors after taking photos at different angles. For instance, individuals have a tendency of using simple red rose as the gift of nature and they feel relaxed particularly when the take photo on blooming flowers. In connection to the above information, the rose flower seems to change the ordinary things to become more meaningful and special(Melzack et al. 243). As a matter of fact, the above aspect is considered therapeutic since it offers an overall sense of joy and positive feelings. Correspondingly, if kids with Downsyndrome, the individuals in wheelchairs or persons with hearing problems use the picture they can be able to determine their creative and artistic experiences. In the illustration, these individuals may encounter hardships while trying to express themselves through talking, although the images and can express or communicate their feelings and ideas in a simpler manner(Arnheim 210). Based on the above information, it is clear that pictures can serve as tools for helping people understand that they have the capabilities of carrying out varied tasks irrespective of them have varied setbacks and challenges. 

Stories

Stories also confirmed to have the power of bringing about healing and relaxation to human beings. In the entire history, individuals have been utilizing stories medication rituals particularly during the times of difficulties. In relation to the above information, there is much circumstantial and metaphysical discussion regarding the benefits of art on wellness. However, the researches state that arts such as storytelling plays a vital role of aiding people to communicate their experiences that cannot be easily expressed in for of words including the identification of cancer(Monti et al. 368). For instance, the individuals suffering from cancer normally explore the implication of past, current and future life experiences during art therapy, hence, managing to integrate cancer into their life accounts as well as coming up with a specific meaning about it. In a like manner, the expression of major mental disorders like dementia, schizophrenia, severe development problems among various end-of-life issues can be handled through storytelling. Conversely, the researchers have identified that the persons encountering such problems can be healed through narrating stories to them(Arnheim 232). As a matter of fact, the aspect of sharing tales and talking these persons enhance their life expectancy as well as playing a role of encouraging them to live longer. 

Expressive Writing

The expressive writing is an essential form of art that offers relaxation and healing. The studies indicate that people who have inscribed regarding their personal traumatic encounters have higher chances experiencing significant improvements concerning measures of physical health as well as minimizing the visits to the hospital. In relation to the above information, it can be argued that writing can help individuals to boost the functioning of their immune systems(Monti et al. 369). Nevertheless, the researchers indicate the paradigm of expressive writing has contributed to positive outcomes. Conversely, the above scenario is attributed to the aspect that expressive inscription is carried out in social, biological, cognitive and behavioral levels (Smyth et al. 4). With regard to Pennebaker (4), expressive writing leads to long-term improvements in moods and health, hence, it is useful in controlling depressed emotion and severe pain. 

The researchers have carried out a study to determine the changes in the level of lymphocyte particularly on individuals taking part in expressive writing. The outcomes from this exploration highlights that the counts of CD4+ lymphocyte for the emotional writing group increases in continuous and gradual in a manner, while the number of CD4+ lymphocyte for the control inscription group seems to have increased slightly from the starting point and later stagnated. In consideration of the participants’ findings, it is confirmed that emotional writing is essential to individuals experiencing various life problems including the persons suffering from HIV. Evidently, the researchers add that the importance of expressive writing might not be sustained for a long period but it can promote healing and relaxation in a greater manner(Smyth et al. 6). For instance, the poetry can aid people to explore their voices and obtain the wisdom they require through expressing their pain and unfortunate encounters in an ordinary language. In connection to the above information, the researchers say that people voices can speak more about their status including personality, and attitude because they are accompanied with tonal variations, rhythms, somatosensory metaphors, associations, and images(Arnheim 240).  Significantly, some healthcare givers are using poetry to aid the patients to express their experiences, hence, helping them to obtain healing through short snippets of expressive emotions and words. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the arts such as dancing, music, stories, expressive writing,and pictures are confirmed to have a greater influence on healing and relaxation. As it is indicated in the above analysis, there are higher chances that artistic works contribute to numerous aspects of psychological and physiological conditions that improve the health status of depressed persons. On the other hand, the interventions regarding creative arts can perfectly promote short-term wellness,particularly on individuals experiencing life-based challenges such as mood variation, anxiety, and various physical diseases like dementia and Down syndrome. In general, the art is associated with several benefits including minimizing stress, anxiety and enhancing positive emotions.