Just been reading about Tai Chi and thought I would recommend Scottish Country dancing. I have been doing it for years and still look forward to my weekly session. It combines music, dance, and socialising as well as keeping the brain in good fettle - you really have to think about what you are doing. You don't need to go with a partner but all the dances are done in 'sets' so it is very friendly. There are also dances most weekends in the East midlands area, not sure about elsewhere.

I tried this a couple of months ago,because I used to love it as a girl, but I never got any further than one session. Although I enjoyed it enormously at the time, the shock element to my lower back left me in a lot of pain for weeks afterwards, so do be careful if you have any back issues.

mcw - if you have already tried it as a young girl, you will have some idea of what SCD is about. If you have rhythm and know your left from your right, you can do Scottish Country Dancing. I taught it and even started up a group with the U3A. Unfortunately I have developed a hip problem so dancing was a problem and I felt I couldn't teach it properly.

If there is a beginners class or a social group, go for it. I learned originally be going to the bottom of the set and watching the others, then the others will help you through.

Can I also say, that if you now SCD you can find and join groups all over the world.

Incidentally, SCD is high impact so it can be hard on the knees and ankles if you are dancing with gusto, but I found that dancing eased my back problem.

Marie

My husband and I went Scottish Dancing at Wallington in the early years of our marriage. Then things came between and we didn't go any more. After many years we returned to it in West Wickham but on the first evening already I ruptured my Achilles Tendon and was in hospital to have it stitched together again. After returning home with leg in plaster I rested for a couple of days and then fell over and broke the knee on the other leg! It was back in hospital again and I was in plaster with both for almost 3 months! I have never dared to try going back to Scottish dancing again!