Read on to find out how to join us for an afternoon of FREE Dance, Movement and Circus workshops!
Blog by Clare Limb
As I write this, I am facing the solemn fact that over the past year I have become increasingly inactive. Pre-pandemic I was racing cyclo-cross at the weekends, doing a yoga class a week at Déda with my daughter, and running with work colleagues once a week. I would also park my car a little bit away from work and walk the return trip every day, getting some valuable steps in as I went. In 2019, I walked, ran, cycled and swam 1,000 miles in 12 months and then repeated that achievement in 2020.
Most of this activity has disappeared. I have been spending a lot of time sitting at my desk (in my home office-cum-bedroom) apart from doing the occasional zoom class in yoga or ballet, carrying out domestic chores or going on the odd dog-walk.
It’s not a great picture for a woman in her 50’s, especially as with this inactivity has come weight gain. But I am determined that I am going to get more active this autumn. Déda’s new project ‘Go Girls!’ - funded by Sport England’s This Girl Can Fund - is especially for people like me who have become inactive for a whole variety of reasons. Being active is so valuable, for both our physical and mental health – according to the NHS, people who have regular physical activity have a lower risk of developing heart disease and stroke, certain cancers, dementia, and depression. The project aims to encourage women and girls aged 16 + to take part in a range of dance, movement and circus classes which are fun and engaging and good for you! We know that dance is not only great fun, but it also helps to improve muscle function, bone health and balance.
The first opportunity for you to come and try out new classes is on Saturday 25th September as part of our Altered Streets event on Chapel Street (workshops run from 1 – 5.15 pm). You will be able to take part in four fabulous taster workshops in four different dance, movement, and circus styles with four amazingly inspiring female tutors. There will then be a prize draw where we will be giving away free tickets (including a plus one!) to take away from the event, for a dance, movement, or circus class of your choosing at Déda.
What’s not to like about a free taster and a free ticket? I’ll be there doing the sessions along with you (see if you can spot me and say hello!). I am then pledging to do a class a week at Déda, during term time, for the whole year that the project is running, which I hope will get me into lifestyle habits that are better for me than sitting down a lot!
Come and join me in the fun #gogirls #thisgirlcan
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