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gwunspoken
We know that now more than ever, there is a growing disconnection between parents and their teens, corporates and their employees, and human interactions in general.
This can cause stress, frustration and many arguments within families and the work environment.
gwunspoken looks at the challenges people of all ages have in their relationships with one another and provides experience and advice, allowing all parties to have a voice.... and feel heard.
Join us to hear corporates, parents, educators, teens and the latest advice of how we can in fact live the life we love, in making authentic interactions, because we know... authentic connection is everything.
gwunspoken
Building Community through Movement: Overcoming Loneliness and Finding Connection
Have you ever wondered how a simple dance class could transform a life plagued by loneliness? On gwunspoken, we unpack the surprising power of movement to build community and enhance well-being. With over 26 years in teaching, neuroscience and well-being, I bring you compelling stories of how engaging in group activities—like fitness classes or local sports—can significantly boost happiness and combat the silent epidemic of social isolation. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to prioritise real-life connections over digital screens, as movement becomes a vital conduit for social interaction, endorphin rushes, and a sense of belonging.
Navigating the initial anxiety of stepping into unfamiliar social events can be daunting, but it's a journey worth taking. Whether attending a dance class or joining a walking club, perseverance in finding the right fit can lead to genuine connections and a stronger community. Hear stories of resilience, like that of a friend who found a sense of home through shared dance experiences, and learn how bringing a friend along for support can ease the way. Our discussion is a call to action—embrace movement, engage with your community, and discover the joy and connection that await.
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Welcome to another edition of GW Unspoken, where we discuss stuff we don't typically talk about but probably should, and we're here again talking about movement. We've got two episodes to go in our eight series on the eight things that make us feel healthy. Well, and episode seven, movement. We're going to talk about today. Oh, the role of movement in building community Such an important one because I think community connections are probably the most important things for overall health, because and get us out of our own thoughts, because we're not alone. That way and welcome back, I really appreciate you tuning in and people writing in about some things I want to talk about or really address, and I appreciate that and happy to do some research and refer that research on too. Again, just a message here and some thoughts that I've had in 26 years of teaching and working in neuroscience as well and the wellbeing space, but really passionate to hear people and how we can actually help them or find out some different ways and strategies that hopefully can help. And look, today we're talking about how movement does make us connect with others. And did you know that people who engage in group activities are 30% happier and less likely to feel isolated? And that's amazing when you think about that, like, isolation is the silent killer at the moment.
Speaker 1:I was talking to a guy down the Esplanade at Redcliffe, probably about a year ago now, and talking about how I was going to start this with the community, and he loved the idea and he said look, gary, one of the biggest things you need to talk about is isolation. And I said what do you mean? He goes. I see so many people come to this coffee shop and they actually don't even. They go home by themselves and they just sit there and they often say to me well, they don't often say, but they'll say to me every now and then yeah, I'm just lonely. Obviously, this is my thing. I just sit down. I feel like at least I've got a coffee club and I can talk to you and say g'day, and that's that makes my day. You know, you think about last time you joined a group fitness class or a walking club or even a casual game of soccer. You know how did it make you feel to move alongside others? So, yeah, it's good going down to coffee and doing that, but what if we can have our community group based on some kind of exercise or movement? There's something powerful about moving together. It's more than just exercise, it's actually a connection, and I can see this often when I go to school and do gym program for the kids and they're singing along to the music in the background and they're laughing, giggling, but the movement is actually giving them those strong endorphins. So it's perfect. It's movement, it's exercise, it's connection, and it's just perfect when they're doing it in peers or with their friends.
Speaker 1:And look, let me start this episode with a story. There was a friend of mine who moved to a new city and she didn't know a single person and she felt lonely, disconnected, and she was unsure of how to meet people. So what she did? She got out of her comfort zone, which was tough for her. She's a bit of an intrinsic person. She decided to join a local dance class, and not because she was great at dancing, but she thought stuff, this I'm going to try something completely different. And you know what? Within weeks she was laughing with classmates, grabbing a coffee after the sessions and building genuine friendships, and that was just a simple act of moving with us, and it made her feel sort of at home too, because it was her community then. So imagine that If you can't dance that well, don't know anybody. Imagine how uncomfortable that would have been for her to go out of her comfort zone to guess what. Can't dance. I'm going to look like a Gumby number one, two, I don't know anyone. So I'm going to feel even probably more self-conscious. Doesn't know a person, and now they have the benefits of the socializing with coffee afterwards. So again dancing, movement, music, again endorphins, working with peers, again a genuine connection that releases dopamine and serotonin. So it's just the perfect combination. Now I'm not saying you have to dance, I'm just saying find your thing all right.
Speaker 1:Here's a question for you when was the last time you participated in a group activity? You know, you might be a bit of a person like me who prefers to train alone, and that's fine. But if you're struggling socially and emotionally, then maybe for you it could be a fitness class, it could be a sports game. We talked to Junior and Erin here from F45. What a great concept to get people together and connected. It's not just about exercise, it's about building a community. What about a sports game? Or even if you just take a walk with a friend, maybe you're the person who you have a lot of social and emotional, but you don't want to talk about it, but you're just going to listen for a change, and just really listen to them and you feel like you're worthwhile because you're there for them, and that can give you some endorphins in itself. You know, how does it make you feel when you compare to, say, moving or working alone?
Speaker 1:Because the reality is, loneliness is actually more common than ever. You know, we live in a world where we're constantly connected online but often disconnected in real life, and that's really important. I want you to think about that. We're often connected online, consistently, that is but often disconnected in real life. I want to ask you another question when was the last time you went out for dinner or out to get some takeaway or something outside and you noticed a restaurant or people sitting down to eat and most people were on their phone? People are still isolated. Doing that, they're just keeping their brains busy.
Speaker 1:Social isolation doesn't just affect our mood. It impacts our physical health too, because when we're lonely again, we talked about this last episode our cortisol levels rise and our oxytocin, the bonding hormone, drops, all right, and this imbalance leaves us feeling stressed and really emotionally depleted. And that's what happens to these people in our social media, our young kids, especially our teens. All right, they feel like they're actually connected, but they're not. They're lonely, they're trying to get as many likes as they can or date as many hits as they can by connecting with them artificially through social media, for example, and then, because they're actually not getting that oxytocin release from real, connected, face-to-face relationships, that bonding hormone as you said, it drops and it makes us feel emotionally depleted. All right, so let me ask you this Do you feel like you have a community right now? If I ask you, right now, who is the group of people you can connect with or you are currently connecting with? And if not, what is holding you back? Because there's plenty of free things out there. If you're worried about price or you're worried about your physical ability or lack of ability, it's often the fear of putting yourself out there or sometimes just not knowing where to start. So let's talk about some solutions right now.
Speaker 1:Group movement is one of the easiest and most effective ways to build connection, whether it's a fitness class, a recreational sports league, a walking club. Moving together forces just trust and a shared purpose. Even something as simple as meeting a friend for a walk can create a sense of accountability and belonging. I know my mother, mum the old boy, passed away just over now, on the 13th of Jan. It was eight years ago he passed away. Mum did not give up walking and she still struggles at times missing dad, missing her husband because they were so close together up walking, and she still struggles at times missing dad, missing her husband all right, because they were so close together. They went around Australia twice together. You know they're in each other's pockets. They loved it that way and mum kept getting out. And then she started meeting people. Now that she's meeting my sister on the Esplanade I think it's on a Monday where they'll go to Malibu and they'll have accountability to meet, for example, at quarter to five and they'll walk together then share in a coffee. That's accountability, that's a sense of belonging, that's also improving all those endorphins from movement. All right, do you think sometimes she wakes up and doesn't feel it going A hundred percent? You know a hundred percent. But once you start moving, those endorphins come through.
Speaker 1:Remember we're not logical creatures. We base ourselves, and often our actions, on our emotions. So here's a challenge for you what's one, just one group activity you can always be or you've always been curious about. Let's start with that. Not one you can actually do. What's one you've been curious about? Yeah, maybe something different. Is it a dance class? Is it yoga, you know? Is it cycling? How could you take the first step towards trying it? Remember, it's not about being the best, it's about showing up and being part of something bigger and in turn, that will help you. So look, here's something for your journal challenge again for today. Three things always do things in threes. Threes is what we often remember things easier. There you go If you're in business or doing some group presentations or whatever. People remember things in threes. Coaches out there, sports coaches, remember this. Three things people remember.
Speaker 1:Number one write down three group activities you'd like to try, even if you're not going to do it. Write them down. Write down three. What excites you about them, what might feel intimidating? Write them on paper. Write down all your positives and negatives.
Speaker 1:Now reflect on a time when you participated in a group activity. How did it affect your mood and was there a sense of connection Interesting? Number three set a goal to join or organize one group movement activity this month. All right. So this month, organize to join one group that in group. It involves movement walking groups are probably the easiest for that but then afterwards, note down how it impacted your mood and relationship.
Speaker 1:In fact, what I'd love to see you do is do how do you feel the day coming up to that event. How do you feel driving or going to that event? When you first turned up at the event, no doubt most people would be uncomfortable because they don't know anybody, necessarily unless you can drag a friend across even better. And then how did you feel? During and after that movement? All right, and then did you keep moving forward? And obviously, if you didn't like it, don't just give up and say, well, that's poor advice, gary, this is crap. Try a different activity. Try something you actually enjoy, because you know what it starts with movement. It starts with connections One step, one class at a time, maybe even one team at a time, all right. So what will you do today to move towards community? Thank you for joining us again for another edition of GW Unspoken, where we discuss stuff we don't typically talk about but probably should.