TED 20 | The Brain, The Soul, The Culture - The Value Behind the Dance with Lucy Woodham

The Empowered Dancers Podcast

Meet Lucy Woodham, a lifelong dancer and a seasoned physiotherapist with over a decade of experience in sports and complex rehab. Passionate about the connection between physical and psychological well-being, Lucy is pursuing a master’s in psychology. In this episode, Lucy challenges us to step away from the Western approach to wellbeing of separating physical and mental health and to instead consider integrating the mind and body as part of one whole human. Her research focuses on the connection of brain health, mindfulness, cultural respsect and dancing, and she advocates for recognizing the holistic benefits of dance on both physical and mental health.

What to expect in this episode:
(00:00) - Introduction.
(0:52) - Dancing as a way to help deafness and balance
(02:48) - The influences of dancing on the brain: The Research
(06:08) - Dancing as a language between people
(08:28) - The Western-centric view of health
(12:58) - Stepping into the culture behind salsa
(18:01) - Active Mindfulness and dancing

About Lucy Woodham:
A lifelong dancer with a decade of experience working as a physiotherapist in sports and complex rehabilitation. She has a deep interest in the link between physical experiences and psychological well-being, which has led her to pursue a master's in psychology. Lucy is passionate about exploring culturally relevant and adaptable means to improve quality of life. She began dancing at the age of two to help with balance issues related to her partial deafness. Over the years, Lucy has trained in various dance styles, including jazz, tap, and salsa, and has taught and performed internationally. She is currently a salsa instructor and is dedicated to integrating her knowledge of physiotherapy and psychology into her practice.

Connect with Lucy Woodham:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucy.woodham.5

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/life.and.lucy
About Bobbie Miles
Bobbie Miles is a social dancer and local teacher based in Bristol. The Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba scene is special to so many, Bobbie included. However, the more she danced, the more she became aware of inappropriate behaviours in the scene, ranging from low-level “creepiness” to undeniable abuses of power. After being bullied by a teacher one time too many, Bobbie realized that she would no longer keep quiet and be subject to any sort of misconduct, and nor should anyone else. Bobbie is an advocate for speaking up, boundary setting, and respect in the dance scene. Through The Empowered Dancers Podcast, she promotes transparency, understanding, and accountability and as a public speaker, she talks about putting boundary setting and respect into practice, both on and off the dance floor.
Resources:
Download my 5 Top Tips for a great dance night! https://empowereddancers.com/5tips
Connect with Bobbie Miles!
Follow me on Instagram @theempowereddancerspodcast https://www.instagram.com/theempowereddancerspodcast
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Find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bobbiemilesbailadora
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