STRETCHING is good for keeping you fit and healthy during 2023 !

 I WISH YOU PEACE and HAPPINESS during 2023.

I stretch out several times each week to keep my body supple, and my back straight. Over Christmas, my grand daughter Emmy (aged four) joined in: “Yoga with Grandpa” is what Emmy called it. I call this specific workout “airplanes.” To keep flying, Emmy needs to grasp my feet with her bent knees …. a skill she has yet to perfect.

Health pages in newspapers and magazines frequently debate the benefits (or not) of stretching. Claims that “stretching does not help avoid strains and sprains,” refer to sports like jogging, where warming-up is included in the very act of starting to jog.

Stretching is definitely good before and after dancing. The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society has promoted warm-ups for 100 years. Founder Miss Jean Milligan was a sports teacher.

Anyone watching professional athletes before a match, will see them warming up to loosen their feet and ankles, stretching leg and arm and back muscles to reduce the risk of injury. Claims that stretching has no value, make little sense to me.

In any sport that requires your muscles to make sudden and unusual muscle movements – like dancing a pas de basque – it is beneficial to warm your muscles and joints beforehand. That is why we do RSCDS warm-up exercises before classes: we tune-up the feet and ankles, knees and hips, back and shoulders, calves and hamstrings ….. and then we start our evening with a gentle dance: maybe a waltz, or a reel where we start by walking and warm up to gentle dance steps.

DANCING IS GOOD FOR YOU ! STRETCHING IS GOOD TOO !

Dr Samantha Smith a specialist in clinical orthopaedics at the Yale School of Medicine, is in favor of the RSCDS style of stretching (even if Samantha herself has never heard of RSCDS !!!). In Hannah Seo’s end-of-year article in the New York Times, Dr Smith says stretching can loosen tight muscles. 

These days, if I do not stretch out before I go to bed, my evening of Scottish dancing will give me cramps in the night. In fact I sleep with woolen stockings after dancing to ensure my calf muscles do not seize up, and I wear  my warm Xmas slippers. So Happy Holidays: stretch to stay fit and healthy !

Can we start dancing in September?????

What the French call "Contre danses" - referring to the set-lines where we are standing opposite our partners at regulation confinement distance of 6 feet - means that Scottish dancers and English Country Dancers are better protected from virus transmission that other dancers. Janet McCrorie's picture "Clasp" (top) shows how we may need adjustments: her second picture "Ceilidh Spin" reduces face-to-face impact. Her dancers even seem to be wearing masks. This may be how we should dance if we want to restart in September. AND THAT IS WHAT WE WANT!!

Demo-level dancing on a Tuesday night: what a treat !

We had such a GREAT dance evening in Richmond this Tuesday at The Dance Space with its beautiful wood floor - we produced a set of demonstration level dances with wonderful women dancers : Moira and Tina are two of the best dancers I have ever had the joy of seeing, as well as Julie, Susan, Rochelle, Elisabeth, Carol….. and there were five demo-level men dancing: Scott Morrison, John Thoburn, Malcolm Shealey, Bern Runk and the author of that now-famous dancing memoir I DANCE THEREFORE I AM.

Which we proved to be true this evening.  

Janet McCrorie's painting called CLASP illustrates perfectly the fun we had tonight.  

Buy Janet's greetings cards! They benefit the RSCDS and they are fine cards.

We danced some fun and tricky dances including Mrs MacPherson of Inveran; The Clumsy Lover (he was not present on the dance floor this evening, but he obviously liked to set-and-link); Jean Martin of Aberdeen (a lovely Strathspey for a lovely lady); Napier’s Index with its fun reels and 4-bar turns; and others.

The RSCDS Richmond Christmas dance program looks enticing..….. especially when you think who will be dancing there. Plan to be in Richmond VA on December 7th this year !  

Bob Hope & James Cagney great dance routine

Well I dance as an amateur, and I do not tap dance. Wish I did !  Here is a wonderful dance routine well worth seeing for dance skills and laughs:  http://videos2view.net/Hope-Cagney.htm

Comedian Bob Hope and actor James Cagney put on a show for their friends in the Friars' Club.

Thank you Wilbur for sending me this great link.

UK's Health Secretary supports DANCING for health

A new initiative launched by British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, doctors in the U.K. will soon be able to prescribe dance classes—along with art, music, sports, gardening and more—for patients suffering from conditions as various as dementia, lung problems and mental health issues.

In the Nov 2018 issue of Dance Magazine, reporter Lauren Wingenroth reported just how significant an impact movement can have as a form of treatment. For instance, when Mark Morris Dance Group's successful Dance for Parkinson's Disease program was profiled in the Journal of Neural Transmission in 2016, researchers found that patients who took 16 classes over eight weeks showed a 10.4 percent improvement in overall movement, a 26.7 percent improvement in walking and a 18.5 percent improvement in tremors. In 2010.

DANCE FIT AND HEALTHY is the theme of my blog; and my amusing book on this subject is called "I Dance Therefore I Am"  .... which you can buy on Amazon. 

Stong Arms, Strong Scottish Women

Stories About Strong Scottish Women

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.
She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 160 in seconds."
I bought her a bathroom scale.
She hit me with her gift. One week later my face is still showing the bruises. 

(A friend told me this story. It was NOT my wife. My face is OK - thanks for asking) 

This painting by Janet McCrory is called STRONG ARM and I am grateful for permission to share it with you. Her cards are sold by and on behalf of the RSCDS and her paintings are for sale on her website. I am guessing, but it is probably about HIS arm and not hers. But you never know with a Scottish woman!

I have been reading words of wisdom on the website of RSCDS Cornwall Branch:
"The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) emphasises the three elements of fitness, fun and friendship that Scottish Country Dancing provides.  Research shows that dancing, and particularly Scottish country dancing, is one of the best forms of activity for keeping the body active and the mind alert. It can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and help prevent or complement the treatment of serious and chronic conditions.  The way to improve health and wellbeing could be just one step away - and what’s more it is fun!"

 It certainly is FUN !!!
These Cornish guys came to dance with us in Brittany last week and THEY HAD FUN !!!!!

The best place for a holiday and for dancing: St Andrews, Scotland

St Andrews, Scotland is the best place to dance AND the best place for golf: a choice of nine courses to play in site, and dozens more in the towns all around.  Beyond the Royal and Ancient Golf Club on the right (the Home of Golf) is the sea and two miles of West Sands. Fabulous swimming, wonderful walking. but beware of stupid  English tourists. Here are some of their complaints:

1. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find 

that almost every restaurant served curry.  I don't like spicy food." 

2. "They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach.  It was 

very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax."  

3. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the 

taxi drivers as they were all Spanish." 

Keep fit and be grateful for good health

Perks of reaching 60 or being over 70 and heading towards 80! 

1.      Kidnappers are not very interested in you. 

2.      In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. 

3.      No one expects you to run—anywhere. 

4.      People call at 8 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?” 

5.      People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. 

6.      There is nothing left to learn the hard way. 

7.      Things you buy now won't wear out. 

8.      You can eat supper at 5 PM   . 

9.      You can live without sex but not your glasses. 

10.   Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size. 

11.  You can't remember who sent you this list. 

Dancing is the best exercise for MIND and BODY and SPIRIT.   There is no better way to keep fit in mind and body, than dancing. The first benefit is that dancing is FUN, relaxing your body and spirit. You can be a teacher, or simply soak up the joy of dance. Research shows that dancing is the best medicine against senility and Alzheimer’s. Fusing music with movement keeps the mind and body in sync; Scottish steps and formations strengthen memory, improve balance and poise.


This link gives an example of ordinary people having a great time at a CEILIDH (fun and games):

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMQkjYxS67fRfVffQOXxizqAx5xr6xIXu6PGAHx8dnskdr7vQrM18kEmpDrCs1PVA/photo/AF1QipOuUe1CdFD4VPsIqoglV6oYwVAe5HqUovUJ4WQc?key=LWJkMmlCaXctOXVQVkZIdVdLeU0xUEo3REdmY1dn

My friend Wilbur sent me this great lesson in communication. George P, an elderly dancer in Michigan, was going up to bed, when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the  bedroom window George opened the back door to go turn off the light, and saw people in the shed stealing things.  He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?"  He said "No, but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me."

The police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available"

George said, "Okay."  He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot and killed them both; the dogs are eating them right now," and he hung up. 

Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic and an Ambulance showed up at George's residence, and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

Don't mess with old people- especially if they are fit and healthy and they dance! Dancing keeps you mentally alert.

HERE is a great article by writer Marilyn Friedman that fits perfectly with the title and theme of this Blog: telling the amusing story of a man who danced until he died.


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/well/move/health-benefits-dancing.html?fbclid=IwAR3AOjGzUQWPfArcoQNhs1CXCcpZlYJKwdHUBsWYYFwfQAjRBickUfd8kvo 

"Is Dancing the Kale of Exercise?"
Research shows that dance offers a wealth of anti-aging benefits. It’s also fun.
Thank you to my Gaelic musician and dancing friend Michael Newton. Dance on!

William in Edinburgh just wrote a wonderful review of my book

I am glad you enjoyed it, Will - and it was also a great idea to order a second copy from Amazon for your girlfriend.

FEET. The most beautiful part of a woman is her feet (if she is a dancer) and after her feet, I look at her eyes. If both feet and both eyes are beautiful, I WANT TO DANCE with her !!!!   The rest of her body simply joins her eyes to her feet. That is what my book is mostly about: beautiful women with elegant feet and bewitching eyes. Men can also have good dancing feet - like me!

Keeping your leg muscles healthy

After dancing, I stretch out my back and shoulders, my leg muscles and my feet and - in winter at least - I wear the woolen stockings in bed in order to keep my leg muscles warm and avoid night-time cramps in my calves and thighs. It was not necessary when I was younger, but it useful these days.

What is the most beautiful part of a woman's body?

If you are a dancer, it is the feet - obviously ... followed by the smiling eyes.  So look after your feet: wooden sprung floors, gentle stretching before and after dancing, and cool them off in cold water.

Spring is here, and April 1st is no fool's day if you are a dancer. Dancing sets everything to rights, keeps your head straight and builds strong healthy muscles. Make sure you warm up those muscles with gentle movements before you dance, and "warm down" again afterwards with some good stretching - especially of the calves and back muscles, the feet and ankles. Muscles like to be kept warm (hot shower) ....   but if you have had a good dancing work-out then your feet and ankle ligaments will appreciate a cold soak (cold water in the hand basin, or even in an ice bucket) before you take that hot shower.

Happy April.   Happy Dancing. I Dance Therefore I Am.

Snow stopped the dancing tonight: a great evening of WALTZ and CONTRA spoiled (more by fear than by weather, actually: Michelle says it only takes three snowflakes to close all the schools in Virginia!). But I have happy memories of contra last time I was in the famous Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom where we had a great party with the band Hot Coffee ( they were really hot!) and with caller Kappy Laning (she was really Kappy!). My book I DANCE THEREFORE I AM contains great stories about contra dancing, and ways to make your dancing better and promote happiness. We hate NOODLES and BULLIES on the contra dance floor; and we like women who are light dancers and who do not kill our backs!  For how not to be a noodle or a bully, read my book!

Dancing recovery: pacing yourself

I had a wonderful New Year Hogmanay Party in Philadelphia (Germantown) with 100 other top Scottish dancers from all over the region. Music was led by my gifted composer friend and pianist Dave Wiesler, who played non-stop from 8.30 pm until 2.30 am and accepted all our requests for repeats. A musical marathon!  We enjoyed THE LAST DANCE OF THE OLD YEAR, had a break for snacks and Auld Lang Syne, and then started the FIRST DANCE OF THE NEW YEAR,  - the most wonderful Delaware Valley Hogmanay party. I am now back in Brooklyn with Michelle, Catherine Leila, Khaled and beautiful 3-week-old Emmy. Of course, after 5 hours of dancing every muscle in my body ached and so I have rested - back tomorrow Monday on the dance floor with the Scotia Dancers in New York.

 

still talking about good posture

A beautiful woman has good posture. The ones who turn our heads are the women who carry themselves like a princess. Girls who slouch look bad. One day I told three young Cambridge dancers: "When you dance, you are all fabulous. But when you stand in the set line, only one of you looks beautiful: I have noticed the other two slouch your shoulders and your allure is gone! Not only that, slouching is bad for your back." 

Back problems are ubiquitous. To avoid back pain in later life, work on your posture when you are still young. The Pilates system (invented by a ballet dancer for other dancers) teaches that the diaphragm and stomach muscles act as a "second backbone" and they help support the back. Standing strong and exercising your stomach muscles simply by holding them in while you stand, will keep your posture good and your back healthy. Here are two young men with good posture and with beautiful dancing partners: Robin and Philip with their lovely wives. Even when we are older, our posture will stay good if we remain conscious of its importance all through our dancing lives.