VIDEO: Why dancing is a great way to boost mind and body

Dancing not only can boost your fitness levels, strengthen your body and improve flexibility but it can “transform your mood by releasing positive endorphins around the body, reducing daily stresses and dance produces specific chemicals that contribute to increasing brain power”, explains instructor Katie Geddes.

“I know myself as someone who shimmied her way into sport and fitness through discovering a dance style that worked for me, namely bellydance, just how incredible this art form is which is accessible to all.

“I even now teach a range of styles in my spare time and as I always say “everybody has a perfect body to dance, we all just move in our own beautiful way.”

From my 85 to year old bellydance flow student who reports that she “finally feels connected within her body” after class to my nutritionist mum Lizzi Owiredu who shimmies along to my dance HIIT class with her toddler feeling “rejuvenated” and “body positive” alongside insta-famous fashion designer Jordan Wake who says that dancing with me before work supercharges her focus and has transformed her “brain and booty” saving her time procrastinating on getting ready and social media.

Celebrity Life Coach Jill Ritchie agrees who chats to me following her somatic movement session which is where you focus on the inner experience dance brings you rather than the external appearance.

She says: “In the wild animals who experience trauma shake it off physically after the event whereas we as humans carry it around with us, there’s no wonder having a good dance can help us shake off our stresses!”

Jill, 41, a former corporate banker, has discovered a love of pole dancing and like me she has a pole at home where she practices with an instructor online.

“I’ve never worked out my arms so much.” I can relate too as when you’re in the dance flow holding your posture strong you end up moving more than you would focusing on acquiring a skill and moving to the music.

Dance is a full on cognitive and core workout, however you wish to groove to the rhythm of the beat.

As Annie eloquently adds: “To dance is to honour your body.

“For dance wakes up and enlivens the muscles, the joints, whose natural state is movement, heart rate increases and the blood flows. You breathe, you flow...dance enlivens the soul.”

“Put on your favourite song and move however you want to the music.”

It really is that simple, there are no rules... if in doubt, shimmy it out!

Read more from Sophie at https://thesparklecoach.com and https://MAMAMEI.co.uk @sparklecommunications