I Danced Today - Improved My Mood A Lot!

Today's go to dance song... Respect...in honor of the queen of soul's birthday.

Dance

Evolution of the Mom Dance

I so love this...just in cased you missed it.

Dancing In My Kitchen - Makes Everything Better

Haven't danced much lately. Haven't done much of anything exercise-wise except walk my dog. So today I did a 15 minute Legs Up the Wall yoga stretch/meditation and then danced around my kitchen and living room for 15 minutes.

Legs Up the Wall reduced my stress and the dancing improved my mood by 20%. Works every time. It's silly of me not to do this every day. It changes everything for the better.

Have You Tried Zumba?

My style of dancing tends to be shake as many body parts as possible as I move around the kitchen and living room. After reading this article about Zumba in Harper's Bazaar, I am thinking maybe it's time to find a group. Do you Zumba?

Freestyle Dancing Reduces the Onset of Dementia

I just read a terrific article in Psychology Today by neuropsychologist Jenni Ogden, Ph.D. She describes a research study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. The findings of the study suggest that freestyle dancing (as in the kind I do in my kitchen and living room) is one of the best activities to "stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia."

Soooo...let me get this straight. If I dance around my house, I am having fun, exercising my body, losing weight, improving my mood by 15-20% and reducing the chances of dementia?!!!!!!!

On My Shazam

I have recently added a number of songs to my dancing playlist that I had forgotten about and have rediscovered with my Shazam App. Do you Shazam?

1.  Something's Got a Hold on Me - Etta James

2.  Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus

3.  As - Stevie Wonder

4.  Boogie Shoes - KC & the Sunshine Band

5.  Do You Love Me - The Contours

6.  New Shoes - Paolo Nutini 

My New Year's Resolution - Just Push Play

I am keeping it simple. I have only one resolution for 2013...Every day just push play! If I have the right playlist, the music will take care of getting me dancing around the kitchen and house. The dancing around the kitchen will take care of everything else...

1.  If I dance for only 10-15 minutes I will improve my mood by 15-20%.
2.  If I dance in the morning, everything I do during the day is done with a significantly better mood.
3.  My creativity flows so much better after I dance.
4.  My problem solving is better after I dance.
5.  Dancing for only 15 minutes helps me maintain my weight.
6.  Dancing for only 30 minutes a day helps me lose weight.
7.  I build and tone muscles when I dance.
8.  I laugh more
9.  Life just works better.

New Year Challenge - Dancing In Our Kitchens

Dancing in the Kitchen While Making Hot Fudge

So today is cooking day. Making the annual hot fudge sauce that goes over vanilla ice-cream (and served with crushed candy canes). If you are looking for great Christmas songs for dancing around the kitchen, here are some of my favorites.

Christmas for You and Me - Drew Holcomb 
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Brian Setzer 
What Christmas Means to Me - Cee Lo Green

Merry Christmas Baby by Bruce Springsteen has been a favorite for years. Last year I found out that Elvis had a version too. This year there is a great duet with Cee Lo Green and Rod Stewart.
Merry Christmas Baby - Cee Lo Green and Rod Stewart
Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Springsteen 
Merry Christmas Baby - Elvis
Gotta Be Good - Chris Isaak
Christmas in the Sand - Colbie Caillet
Santa Claus Baby - Joan Osborne

And for those who have been a bit naughty this year...
What Do Bad Girls Get - Joan Osborne
Maybe Next Year - Meiko

Please Come Home for Christmas - Grace Potter
Step Into Christmas - The Puppini Sisters
Señor Santa - Y La Bamba

Another two big favorites are Bette Midler's Cool Yule. You know it's going to be good if it's Midler. And I should warn you, once you listen to I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas you will be singing it for weeks!
Cool Yule - Bette Midler
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gretchen Wilson

Santa Baby - Pink Martini
Ain't Nothin' Like Christmas - Shelby Lynn
Red-Suited Super Man - Rod Stewart
Party Hard - Zach Gill
Children Go Where I Send Thee - Natalie Merchant

Love me a New Orleans Christmas...
Such a Night - Aaron Neville
Louisiana Christmas Day - Aaron Neville

Then there is classic Brenda Lee...
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee

Hope these songs get you and your family and friends up and rockin' around the Christmas Tree.

Dancing Around the World

I've seen Matt's dancing videos before and love them. This is a new one. Thanks Susan for sending me the link.

Dancing With Your Kids - From Ellen

I've written before and have had lots of people comment over the years about dancing around the house with their kids. In this case Ellen featured a woman and her grown son. Love this.

SoulPancake 60 Second Disco

We often only celebrate when there's a special occasion. But we don't always need a reason to stop and have a little fun. So, the SoulPancake team headed to a busy bus stop to throw people a surprise celebration—just because.

Dancing in My Kitchen Haiku

five ten twenty years
how long 'til I dance again
if not now then when

Losing Weight by Dancing in My Kitchen

I have been on Weight Watchers for several months now. When I stay on program I lose a pound or a little less each week. The weeks that I dance around my kitchen and/or living room for 30 minutes, 5x a week, I lose an additional half pound. Plus my mood improves a lot which helps me stay on my food program. Three months in and I am feeling very optimistic. I can keep doing this!

Dancing in My Kitchen Changed My Life

Dancing in my kitchen and around the house changes...
My body
My energy
My attitude
My outlook on life
My mood
How I feel about myself
How I relate to others
My problems
How I look
How I walk
How I think
How I create
What I dream about
How I feel about aging
How I age
My life!

I danced today in my kitchen
When - Afternoon
How long - for 30 minutes
Mood Before - 5.5
Mood After - 7.5
Go To Song - Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Joshua Ledet

Dancing to Creedence Clearwater Revival

Sheila and I have been discussing how much we both like dancing to Creedence Clearwater Revival (see below).

Some of my favorite Creedence songs to dance to around the house are...

Proud Mary  Okay nobody sings Proud Mary like Tina Turner, but this is a close second.
Susie Q
Born on the Bayou  This one is probably my all time favorite.
I Put a Spell on You  Just so darn sexy!
Fortunate Son
Down on the Corner  Always makes me smile
Bad Moon Rising

Are you a Creedence fan? What's your favorite?

Dancing Before Facing Unpleasant Things on Your To Do Lists

Do you have to...
1.  make an unpleasant phone call?
2.  go for a job interview?
3.  have an icky money discussion with someone?
4.  have to meet your ex to discuss child custody issues?
5.  be audited by the IRS?
6.  meet with your boss about a mistake you made?

Whenever I have something I'm dreading on my To Do list, I always dance around my living room to improve my mood and energy before diving in. I figure if I can face...whatever...with a 15-20% better mood, it's bound to help my performance and coping skills.

Here are a few songs to help...
Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey
Feeling Alright by Joe Cocker
King of Anything by Sara Bareilles
Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
Heaven by Los Lonely Boys
Dog Days Are Over by Florence and The Machine
In These Shoes by Bette Midler - and yes cute shoes help too!