The year that was 2020!

As this year draws to a close we wanted to reflect and look back on all that's happened for us and with you these last 12 months.

I heard this wonderful quote today "If you don't look within, you go without". I think to get to the end of this year and not have been turned inside out in some way is highly unlikely and when I say turned inside out. We will remember this year for the rest of our lives and I feel so thankful to have a child of an age that she will only remember playing with her Mum and Dad for hours in the garden, long walks and lots of baking! Hats off to Parents of teenagers!

But If you haven't stopped to reflect, grow and change this last year I guess you never will. With sorrow, stress and loss, its also bought reflection and change. These have to be good right?

Kate put together a wonderful video of all the things we have achieved this year (in fact she said it would have been hours long If she had put it all in!) We hope it makes you laugh and cry as much as it did us.

I also asked our team what they have learnt from 2020 and here’s what some of them had to say...

Nikki

What have you learnt about yourself this year?

Honestly so much. That I'm definitely an ideas person, I actually loved the feeling of being challenged to come up with new ways of offering classes, working and offering new things to bring joy and empowerment to others. That I can do anything, but not everything.I have a chronic condition that got much worse this past year and unfortunately got diagnosed with a chronic illness too, that had been bubbling away for years and then knocked me sideways since March.

As someone who has always been 100 miles an hour and very active I’ve struggled with this. Its made me more aware of listening to my body and gut. To slow down and prioritise self-care much more and to find better ways of managing stress (I can highly recommend Burnout Book by Emily & Amelia Nagoski).

I’ve also learnt how much movement and dance and connection mean to me. How the times when I have felt most healthy (both physically and mentally) have when I’ve been dancing and moving my body. Its been very hard seeing the rest of the team getting to dance with you all and not having that joy myself. I’ve really missed teaching and dancing with our DLAM Fam Community.

Your DLAM highlights.
This is hard to just pick a few! Dance Fit online has been really amazing. Its been great to be able to develop it into the class I had always wanted it to be, but mostly to see and hear the change that its made in so many women's lives.

To see these friendly, happy faces each week through the screen, all shaking their ass and having fun was so joyful. Also to see how much they have supported each other on the whats app group and then feeling the love in the room when we did our one off class at Transcend. We were all crying at the end of the meditation; you could just feel the connection and love in the room.

The team growing and changing and seeing everyone come together. Don't get me wrong we've had our fair share of conflict...but hey what doesn’t challenge you doesn't change you! Its been wonderful to see Kate & Esther as new Instructors bring so much passion and ideas and to see everyone together (the 2 times we got to!)

But I have to say the Christmas Zoom Party was so much fun. We learnt so much more about each other and just howled with laughter. Its been a real highlight for me to have this amazing group of women all coming together.

Thing you’re proudest of

Again...so much. I think it has to be how much the classes have helped people this year. We have honestly had people contact us with their experience of how the classes have impacted them and it brought me to tears every time. There have been a few times where it all got too much and I’ve wanted to just climb into bed, put the duvet over my head and give up. But hearing that the classes and the support has genuinely changed lives for the better makes it all worthwhile. I'm so proud of the whole team for how hard they have worked this year and for making all this happen.

No matter what happens next I know we did our best and we did everything we could to keep going and keep bringing joy when people needed it most.

Charlie

What have you learnt about yourself this year?

I'm really good at multi tasking! Looking after 2 small children 24/7 and working my arse off!

Your DLAM highlights.

Teaching our real life one off Dance Fit Special (when we were able to). It was so so lovely to see everyone shaking their booty and really going for it... I couldn't stop smiling! The energy bouncing around the studio was just insane.

Thing you’re proudest of

Teaching kids ballet during lockdown... it's something I have been planning on doing for a long time and I'm so proud of all the children that came each week and the dedication, passion and love they developed for Ballet just melts my heart! I'm also just so proud of the DLAM team. We have pulled together and made it through the most challenging year. We helped women, kids, mums and babies make it thorough also by offering support and joy! I couldn't have made it though with out DLAM!

Shelly

What have you learnt about yourself this year?

This year I have learnt that I have more patience than I ever imagined possible ! I also learnt that i’m most definitely a people person I crave that love and connection from family and friends and as a self confessed ‘hugger’ it’s really fucking hard not to act on your natural instincts

Your DLAM highlights. 

My DLAM highlights are... Seeing our whole DLAM Fam adjust and adapt in these very strange times, turning the business around to allow us to deliver classes online and getting to draw upon the strengths of others to make all that possible

Thing you’re proudest of

I’m most proud of.... My children, the way they handled each difficult decision we’ve been faced with the uncertainty, the ‘rules’ the total turn around to what was their ‘norm’ They really adapted and accepted the situations and still managed to smile love and laugh.  It’s true that we can also learn too from our children

Esther

What have you learnt about yourself this year?

This year has really helped me figure out my priorities and let go of things that I felt obliged to say yes to. I really value the time I got to spend with my little girl, watching her grow and learn so much and this has really helped me re-organise my time and priorities so I can hang out with her as much as possible (whilst she still wants to hang out with me!!)

Your DLAM highlights.

My DLAM classes have definitely been the highlight of the lockdowns, if someone had told me this time last year that I’d feel so connected with a bunch of people on a screen I would have definitely done a sassy eye roll but it has made such a huge difference and brought me so much joy (and a very pleasant commute too!). I also absolutely loved meeting mums in real life at my Hale and Urmston classes, getting dressed up to film for Children in Need and Halloween was such a joyful experience, remembering some of the fab costumes still makes me grin!

Thing you’re proudest of

I’ve had so many DLAM firsts this year, from my first training day a week before lockdown 🤦🏻‍♀️ To bringing my kids yoga online with DLAM, launching real life classes and getting stuck in to Dance Fit. I am so grateful for the love and support from my DLAM fam who welcomed me with (figurative) open arms and (literal) big smiles! I have loved the online and real life classes and the lovely feedback that I have received, reminding me what a difference a chat, giggle and a dance can make to people’s days, weeks and year!!

Kate

What have you learnt about yourself this year?

I’ve developed a self confidence I didn’t know I was capable of. That I’m brave - I can do hard things. And I can say vagina A LOT while teaching a yoga class.

Your DLAM highlights.

I’ve loved meeting everyone (virtually and otherwise) and have absolutely loved joining the DLAM Team. I feel like I’ve found my perfect job here (so much so that it doesn’t feel like a job).

Thing you’re proudest of
Starting pelvic floor and core and our pregnancy yoga (with a twist) classes - these are just an absolute dream for me. I love the yoga to music element of the pregnancy class and would love to take this into my adult yoga classes too. I’m so proud of the women coming to pelvic floor and core, who are growing in confidence and seeing such wonderful results.

2020 has been a lot. We’re so proud of our team and we’re so proud of our attendees for facing it like the absolute goddesses you are. Here’s to a 2021 which is hopefully a little less bumpy. But knowing that if it does throw us some shit, we can face it together.

Lots of love,

The DLAM Fam

xxxxx