22
Jun 2024
The inclusive adult exercise class dancing for health and happiness
Sparkly pom poms, ribbons, brightly coloured rolls of fabric and music to tap your toe to – this is what you can expect when you attend one of Dancing for Well-Being's classes, which are designed for all, irrespective of age and ability.
Every week day across venues in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Boroughbridge, groups of older people meet to shake, shimmy and socialise – and in some cases, from the comfort of a sitting position.
There are countless studies extoling the benefits of exercise for older people. From improved mobility and flexibility to tackling loneliness and poor mental health, the results are so well publicised it can be easy to focus on statistics and forget how positive the impact can be on an individual.
That’s not the case for Hannah Wood. As the manager of Dancing for Well-Being, she sees on a weekly basis how people’s lives can be enriched through the power of movement.
She said:
The biggest thing is we come together and have fun - we're providing a place for people to have a laugh which is so important for so many members.
Classes run across Harrogate and the district (Image: Steven Eric Parker)
'Emotionally uplifting'
Dancing for Well-Being was first established in 2015 by Jackie Terry-Schuhmann who wanted to address the demand for a less challenging, more accessible dance session that mainstream classes could not offer.
A former exercise instructor with Age UK North Yorkshire, and with an MA in Disability Studies, Jackie was inspired to set up her own business when attending a dance workshop for dementia patients.
After witnessing how structuring the class in a seated circle help participants engage more fully, Jackie took these learnings into her own sessions.
She explained:
I saw how could be adapted to suit people with various different abilities, illnesses and impairments, as well as people with dementia.
I found circle dancing so emotionally uplifting – something I hadn’t experienced with seated exercise – so immediately started using what I’d learned in my groups.
Hannah joined the Dancing for Well-Being team in 2022 and has described herself as feeling 'lucky to be part of such a joyful place'.
She said:
We're a small team but the members are really part of it too - and there's about 200 of them.
Everyone is so lovely - when a new member joins, you can see everybody else gathers them up in their arms and makes them feel comfortable.
Props are used in classes too (Image: Steven Eric Parker)
The magic of connection
Classes cost £5, and typically run between an hour to an hour-and-a-half, with a gentle warm up and cool down, and a chat over refreshments afterwards.
Facing the instructor in the centre of the circle, participants can either sit or stand while they use props that include scarves and pom poms to follow along to simple routines.
One of the company’s taglines is ‘there is no right or wrong steps, only variations’, and according to Hannah, as long as an individual is moving their body positively, that’s all that matters.
The use of props isn’t just to add some colour either – they can be important sensory tools when it comes to prompting memory and creativity.
Hannah said:
It's twofold - one reason is to bring some vibrancy and joy, but the other is to allow our bodies to move in a different way.
A prop can be an extension of your body. You might not be able to reach up but the scarf or ribbon can express that physicality instead.
The playlist might surprise you too; it’s not just the golden oldies that are queued up but plenty of today’s pop hits make an appearance too. During a session, songs can vary from Doris Day and Elvis Presley to George Ezra and Taylor Swift.
The last 30 minutes of the session is just as important as the exercise itself – over a cup of tea and a biscuit, participants have a chance to catch up and socialise.
Many people come to these sessions alone, and a significant proportion live alone too, having lost partners to illness or old age.
Setting aside the time to enjoy the company of others is a lifeline to many in the group and an invaluable way to combat loneliness in later years.
The team at Dancing for Well-Being don’t proport to 'being scientists' instead describing the positive mental benefits members can experience as 'the magic of connection'.
One group member commented:
Although I have confidence, living on my own can be lonely. Going out to classes brings me enjoyment and connects me to other people.
The sessions offer a chance to socialise and exercise (Image: Steven Eric Parker)
Community spirit
There are currently eight full-time members of staff and 20 volunteers facilitating Dancing for Well-Being’s sessions, which take place in 11 acessible venues across Yorkshire.
Upcoming events include a recently established dementia-specific session, and an annual summer party, where members bring food and drink to share.
Offering words of encouragement to anybody who might be considering attending a class, Hannah said:
You don't have to be a dancer or have even danced before. There really is no right or wrong way to do it, it's about taking that first step and joining in.
It's for every single body - no matter how well you feel yours works.
Looking for more articles like the one you just read? Visit the Beauty & Wellness section for more content.
0