Joyful Movement
Happy September everyone! I love this time of year with the cooler nights and the abundance of fresh food. The Farmers Markets are a bonanza of colour and flavour right now. I struggle not to over buy because everything looks SO good! Joe and I are busy harvesting, preserving and preparing for the Winter ahead. Fall is my favourite season and Winter is my second favourite so I am full of joy and anticipation. Winter especially feels fun to me because it rekindles my childlike sense of joy and play.
Speaking of joy, I had an unexpected joyful experience recently. I went out dancing after years of not dancing and it felt different, something had shifted...
I was dancing from a young age, it started with ballet. Ballet did not suit my younger self, perhaps it felt too regimented and confined. I think young me needed a bit more freedom and self expression. I was better suited to Jazz, which I did in my young teens. I liked having a dance choreographed for me and working on performing it to the best of my ability. But still, something was lacking.
In my teen years, between the ages of 13 and 18 I lived for nights of going dancing at dry “bars” for those of us not old enough to drink alcohol. I loved dancing and I could get down and boogie. When I look back on those years now, I realize that I did not truly let myself be free. I watched and admired the few brave young people who would get out on the dance floor by themselves and just let go. I was still too insecure, and I would not go out on the dance floor unless there was someone with me.
I look back on those years fondly and with a little sadness at the insecurity that held me back.
Once I was legal drinking age we started to hit the bars in Hull, and a year later in Ottawa. I still loved going out dancing but the experience was dulled by the pressure and expectation to “hook up.” This was bittersweet and frustrating for me as our dancing got easily sidetracked, it became about meeting someone instead of just dancing.
And then, I stopped dancing for years. But I yearned, I yearned to go dancing. As I aged, it got harder and harder to find places to dance. Then I started to see websites advertising dancing for 40+ folks, like this one Dancemoms. I realized I was not the only one missing this, wanting this and looking for this.
Last week, a friend took me to a place that was having an '80s Night and I jumped at the chance to go. Something kinda magical happened, I still had the moves and I could still move like my younger self BUT I am in my 50s now and I don't care what anyone thinks of me and my dancing ... I ... let ... go ... and it was joyful. #thejoyofaging. What added to this joyful experience was that people of all ages were there to dance. Just. Having. Fun.
This night of dance came at the right time for me as I had just been caring for a loved one through a health crisis and I was depleted and emotionally exhausted. Dancing was a physical therapy (check out this article for the numerous benefits of dance). I didn't realize how much I needed it until I was on the dance floor letting the music take hold of my body, giving in and letting go to the beat that thrummed through me. I was released.
I exercise, I strength train, I stay physically active. I need and want to keep my body strong and able so I can enjoy physical activities like hiking, canoeing and snowshoeing for the rest of my life. But there is nothing quite like dancing. For me, dance is truly joyful movement. In dance, I live in joy.
I believe it is my exercise routine that allowed me to dance for hours and hours. My body was able to do what I needed it to do – dance! My workouts keep me strong and able but it is dance that makes me feel FREE.
In Diana Nyad's inspirational TED talk, she finishes by saying “Find a Way!” and I say, find a way of moving your body that is enjoyable and find a way of moving your body that is challenging so it can support you in those activities that bring you joy.
I design programs that allow you to move easily and efficiently by improving your mobility. Reach out to talk to me about a mobility program that will support the activities that bring you joy.
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