Dancing Can Ease Incontinence, Says Research. Pee-Gate Accused Needs Kathak Training Himself

For a few weeks now, I have been following the reports about the shameful conduct by a high-flying executive who, in an inebriated condition, allegedly relieved himself on an elderly woman on an Air India business class flight. As an Indian living and working in the US, seeing a well educated person who shares the same nationality as me getting involved in such a disgraceful act filled me with shame. And as if that was not enough, I woke up to another shocking news Friday when I saw reports that the accused in the case and his lawyer, while appearing in a court, alleged that it was not him but the Kathak dancer 70-year-woman herself who had urinated on her seat, and also made an outrageous claim that 80% of Kathak dancers suffer from this problem of urinary incontinence.

As a Kathak performer myself, I am filled with rage reading the news reports and social media posts and feel it is important to bust the misconception, before it gets twisted as fact and becomes popular culture. 

There is no scientific support for this misleading narrative. There is zero truth to this baseless claim of Kathak dancers suffering from incontinence. A Kathak performer can be a male or a female, there is no gender segregation in the modern dance world. And contrary to the allegation that most dancers suffer from this bladder issue, they in fact due to their active physical regime and years of training develop strong pelvic muscles that support their core, resulting in a positive effect on urinary incontinence-related muscle strength. 

In simple words, dancing helps to control bladder muscles and manage urine leakage. According to a study published in Renal and Urology News, dancing can ease urinary incontinence. The article says a series of dance exercises were added to a physiotherapy programme to help women strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. 

It seems accused Shankar Mishra, though educated and successful, is prejudiced against women. However repulsive his alleged act on the flight was, a sincere apology to the elderly woman would have earned him more respect. Instead, he has chosen to attack and denigrate the 70-year-old in more repulsive ways. Civility goes beyond the law and is more than simple good manners. It is the core of mutual respect for your fellow beings. 

I cannot even imagine the emotional stress the elderly artiste must be going through as she is facing all these accusations only because she raised her voice after the nightmarish flight that was supposed to be a luxurious journey back home. I just want to tell her “Thank You for your great act of courage, we have got your back!”

The author is a Kathak dancer, educator and a communications professional.

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