Well how do I begin, Lilac Dawn is a culmination of a variety of health modalities that to narrow down to just one area would be very difficult but this week I need to talk about my rekindled love of dance and how it has changed me the last few weeks. How do I even write a blog, I am the world's worst person at technology and as my husband would tell you, I have spent many a long hour having very heated arguments with the laptop but I want to put my thoughts down on paper or rather my blog so this is my first attempt at it as far as Lilac Dawn is concerned and I hope my laptop and I remain friends throughout the process.

What a few weeks I have had recently. Zumba classes in Rendlesham are going well, and it is great to see everyone having so much fun. That for me beats anything. Also very importantly we are raising money for St Elizabeth Hospice every week and that means a great deal to myself and my family. I have loved music and dance for more than 34 years (I know I don't look old enough) and it has been a part of my life in some form for all that time. I loved to Ballroom dance but my passion was the Latin style and I have to admit that I feel like a child again when in the class, I feel free and able to express myself and be myself and I haven't a care in the world for those 2 hours of teaching, I love it. I hope that others can let go and have as much fun as I do, it just feels comfortable to me. I guess people come to the class for all sorts of reasons and similarly have all sorts of reasons for not being able to come along, either way it is fine with me there is no pressure to come along and I also respect that it won't be for everyone again for a variety of reasons. I hope people can, for just for those 50 minutes,  forget they have ironing, washing up, chores, bills and stuff to do and simply "be" it is so empowering and liberating and if not at my Zumba class then somewhere doing something that makes their heart bounce for a short period of time every week. It is inspiring and uplifting to see people find time to enjoy themselves and laugh out loud, in these times of stress, recession and insecurity, go for it you have nothing to lose.

January is hopefully a time for reflection, change and new beginnings, 2012 is a very special year for me in lots of ways, not least because I turn 40 and as the saying goes "life begins" I have to be honest for the first 9 months of this year I was not in a good place with regard to being 40 but now it is rapidly approaching I am actually quite looking forward to my next birthday, a new chapter and another year older, in my head I am still 20 and if Zumba has anything to do with it my body will soon be back there too!!!!!

Sad but true is that I have a mental list of things to do before I am 40.  Needless to say that hardly any of them are going to come to any fuition, for example I would love to dance with one of the pro's from Strictly, (not giving away which one, well two or three actually), I have always wanted to write a novel and years ago said that I would do that before I was 40, unlikely to get that done in 2 months now but can always try I guess as I have the characters and plot all in my head and have done for years. I would love to hold a real life Koala bear (I used to collect them as a child, toy ones of course not real ones). I can however do the next one or two, I would love to go and sit on a beach for three days and sit in the sun (put that in here as I know my husband will read this and it might inspire my birthday present, sorry Tom!)  In all seriousness though I want to be fitter, healthier and trimmer, but more importantly I want this for me and not for anyone else's benefit.  I want to feel younger than I have in years, dance like I have never danced before and laughed like a hyena, ah yes then along came Zumba, and as the fairy godmother said to cinderella, your wish is my command or was that the Genie???? Not sure I have the correct panto there but you get my drift.  There is hope for me yet!

Well this hasn't been too painful and if you are able to read this then my laptop and I are friends and there will be another article next week.

Until then, keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep shimmying!!!!

Julie