Dance That Keeps You Young

Send us Fan MailDance can feel like a simple pleasure, but what if it is also one of the most underused tools we have for healthy ageing? I’m joined by Faye O’Connor, a registered dance movement psychotherapist and the founder of Xpress Yourself Dance CIC, to unpack what really happens when older adults move together and why it matters for prevention, connection, and quality of life. We get into the practical health benefits of dance classes for over 60s: balance and coordination work that supports mobility, routines that deliberately change to push learning and stimulate the brain, and a realistic view of falls prevention where reaction and dexterity can make the difference. We also talk about pain, arthritis, and the fear of movement, and why the right kind of supportive, welcoming session can help people feel safer in their bodies again. Some of the most powerful moments are about dementia care. Faye shares how movement can become a real conversation when words are no longer available, and how music can hold emotion and unlock memory, even if only briefly. We also explore neighbourhood health, the promise of social prescribing, and what it looks like when community organisations spot local needs early and build services that people actually want. If you care about preventative healthcare, dementia support, community wellbeing, or social impact, this one is for you. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs a nudge to move, and leave a review so more people can find the podcast.Contact Xpress Yourself:Website: https://www.xpress-yourself.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/Xpre55Your5elf/https://www.youtube.com/@XpressYourselfKDSupport the showHi, I'm Heidi Fisher, the host of the Make an Impact Podcast.  I'm an impact measurement expert, passionate about helping you make a bigger impact in the world by maximising the impact your services have. I can help you to measure, manage and communicate the impact you have better to funders, investors, commissioners and other stakeholders, and to systemise your data collection and analysis so that it frees up time and doesn't become an additional burden.  I love helping you to measure social and economic impacts, including Social Return on Investment or value for money assessments, as part of understanding the change you make to peoples' lives. You can get in touch via LinkedIn or the website makeanimpactcic.co.uk if you'd like to find out more about working with me.