So, what can you do for free, that lifts your mood by elevating
endorphin levels that also helps your fitness level?
Dance!
As a girl, I was blessed with a unique opportunity. My mother had
danced in her youth and wanted to share that experience with me. Through her encouragement, I grew to love
my dance lessons and ended up studying dance about 4 nights a week and then
performing on the weekends.
One of my favorite activities was dancing outside. I enjoyed practicing
my turns outdoors (poor grass!). So, I’d put our large speakers outside the
door and then turn and turn, and turn some more, using the trees across the
lake as a spotting tool. In case you’re unfamiliar spotting is a place you
focus your eyes so that you don’t become dizzy.
Now, some of you reading this will think this sounds crazy. Others are
living in a place wherein doing something like this is not possible. I’m not suggesting you twirl outside,
but hey, if you can, go for it! I’m just using my teenage experiences as an
example of how dancing liberated me, and fed my senses and spirit, leading to creativity.
What anyone reading this can do, especially those feeling bogged down
by a creative block, is dance. Pandora, Google, Spotify, whatever app or tool
you need—try dancing. It has so many benefits, I don’t know what all to list.
·
What I can say for sure is that dancing makes you lighter.
You feel lighter and can indeed shed a few pounds.
·
Creative blocks can make you down in the dumps. It's an inner heavy feeling. Creatively
you are constipated—unable to push out your creative flow. But you can play the music of
your choice and quite quickly feel the flow return.
Beautiful and inspiring post, Stephanie! My mother taught us to Jitterbug and Twist as kids (she was raised in the 50s!). We had a lot of fun with that.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes!
Lori
My A2Zs @ As the Fates Would Have It & Promptly Written
Follow Me (Ravyne) Twitter|Facebook
Jitterbug sounds and looks so cool! I did do the twist in my day and it is still a freeing and fun dance.
DeleteBlessed you are to cultivate dance as an art form, Stephanie. I have a wrong foot and I make for a horrible dancer. Wouldn't mind shaking the body, tough!!
ReplyDeleteJust do it, like no one is looking and have fun!
DeleteWhen I was young the twist hadn't been invented!!! It was tangos, waltzes,foxtrots, etc. However, I used to love to dance and have done so up until recent years when the body starts to let one down
ReplyDeleteWow! I love those dances.
DeleteI have always loved dancing. But in the last twenty years, it is mostly in spirit. I've always enjoyed walking and exercising which are kindred activities. But it does open the mind. Pushing a lawnmower helps me.
ReplyDeleteI'd do lawnmower to music! Then you're dancing too, just in a different way.
DeleteMy yoga teacher is a former dancer who often points out how many things have changed in dance instruction as we learn more about our bodies. I still remember my junior high lunch time dances.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine.
DeleteYes!!!
ReplyDeleteBeth Lapin
Activities for a Good Life
https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/
Yes!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely post Stephanie thank you! I'm gonna give that a try! Have made a note in CAPS on piece of pater ... I feel energised just reading it thank yoiu!
ReplyDeleteThat is so wonderful Susan!
Delete