In January 2025, Parents ki Paathshaala brought together parents for a powerful conversation on the transformative impact of dance in a child’s life. Titled Flowing Minds, Growing Hearts, the virtual session featured Upasana Tendulkar—renowned dance educator and NATA Shastra researcher—whose work beautifully bridges ancient wisdom and contemporary parenting. The session was moderated by Aishwarya and attended by engaged parents eager to understand how dance can shape their child’s well-being.

Upasana began by grounding the session in the evolutionary roots of movement—highlighting that dance predates language as a means of human expression and connection. She emphasized that rhythmic movement is coded in our DNA, making dance not only accessible but essential.

Through engaging stories and data-backed insights, she illustrated the holistic benefits of dance: physically enhancing strength and coordination, emotionally unlocking expression beyond words, sharpening memory and focus, and even elevating spiritual and energetic well-being. Referring to Dr. David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness, she showed how dance can raise a child’s energy and emotional state.

A key takeaway for parents was the importance of choosing developmentally appropriate dance forms—those that involve the full body and align with a child’s natural rhythms. Upasana cautioned against adult-centric dance styles for young children, encouraging families instead to embrace classical forms, rhythmic gymnastics, and cultural celebrations.

She also spoke about the power of dance to build resilience, empathy, and self-esteem in children, all of which are qualities deeply needed in today’s fast-paced world.

The session ended with a reminder that when parents dance freely, they not only role-model joy and presence but also release their children from inherited inhibitions. Dance, in Upasana’s words, “is a joyful, healing mechanism for growing hearts and flowing minds.”