WELLNESS

Get Online and Dance

Virtual dancing is a great way to feel better emotionally and physically this winter

Last issue, Connect featured a PWH® mentorship pair who loves to dance. (Shout out to Pam Wedow and Delana Roperto!) Their love of dance got me thinking how much I love to dance. Then, over the holidays, my mom and I watched one of our favorite holiday movies together (virtually) – “White Christmas.” In that movie, dancer Vera-Ellen plays Judy, the younger of the Haynes sisters, and boy, does she dance. She was 33 when she played that role. I was never as talented as Vera-Ellen, but I took my share of dance classes as a kid. I got a little depressed thinking that I will never be able to move with that kind of flexibility and strength again because I am just a few years past 33 now. Maybe a few more…who’s counting? The point is, I thought again about Pam and Delana and decided to look online for a dance class offered virtually to undo some of the atrophy my body has experienced since COVID restrictions began.

There are a lot of different dance styles to choose from. I know that Pam has enjoyed dancing Zumba for years. Delana dances salsa professionally. I found an offering of online dance classes featuring a technique called “Nia” that appealed to me. The simple yet stylistic choreography worked more muscle groups than I realized I had, from my fingers to my toes and up through my shoulders and neck. The choreography allowed space for individual style but at the same time kept me from moving in my usual patterns.

The virtual classes I took are led by a woman in the Atlanta area who also leads Nia dance classes for various senior By Rachel Bailey groups. Before COVID restrictions set in, she led these classes face-to-face. But the virtual session seemed to work just as well. In the privacy of my own home, I danced for 50 minutes straight. I worked up a sweat and thoroughly enjoyed myself. While I am not exactly a senior yet, seeing a woman 20 years older than me move with the grace and style that comes from taking care of her body reassured and inspired me. At the same time, because I was home, I felt less embarrassed when I “messed up” while learning the new style.

My wellness recommendation for PWH® members who are feeling cramped by work and public health restrictions is to find an online dance class. Virtually join a group of strangers, learn some new patterns, feel the music and dance in the comfort of your own home.