Tipping Point: Len Goodman gets frustrated with machine
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Len Goodman said the most difficult step in dancing is the first one. Ahead of Arthritis Week, he’s shared his tips for staying active as you get older, and how he manages his arthritis. If you’ve ever wanted to give dancing a try – here’s some advice from Britain’s most beloved dancer.
If you love to curl up on a Saturday night watching Strictly Come Dancing, and you find yourself wishing you could move like that on the dancefloor – why not give it a go?
Len Goodman joins Express.co.uk to give his top tips to anyone who feels the pull of the ballroom, from how to overcome nerves to how to get off to a flying start.
Despite having arthritis himself, Len shows no signs of slowing down at 77 years old.
Currently in Los Angeles filming the current season of Dancing With The Stars, Len feels passionately about people staying active as they get older.
He says: “You’ve got to exercise as much as you can. We’d all rather sit inside being couch potatoes, but you’ve just got to get out and do it.
“What I love is the feeling of wellbeing after you’ve gone out there and done it.”
Len is busy in Los Angeles so hasn’t kept up with this year’s Strictly, but he hears from his wife Sue that this year’s is a “marvellous series”.
One thing that can help you to keep up with an exercise routine, is staying active by doing something you love.
For Len, his love of golf keeps him active as he spends his days off strolling around the course chatting with mates.
If dancing puts a smile on your face, why not give ballroom a go?
Len says: “I’ll confess, when we’re indoors and we’ve got the radio on and a nice tune comes on I say ‘Oh come on girl’, and we have a nice little mince around – but not serious dancing anymore.
“I must say, dancing is one of the most wonderful exercises for all age groups. It’s something you can do, however old you are.
“You can get down to a dance studio with your partner, or if you’re single you can go to a dance class and find other people to dance with.
“I think dancing is not only good for you physically but it’s also good mentally, because you’ve got to try and remember the steps. It really is an amazing thing to do.”
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Even if you haven’t wiggled your hips in years, Len says it’s never too late to give it a go.
“I always say the most difficult step in dancing is the first step into a dance school, because it’s a bit of a step into the unknown.
“It’s a scary sort of thing when you don’t know what’s going to go on and whether you’ll make a fool out of yourself.
“I always suggest people have an hour or half an hour private lesson – by themselves, or with their partner – before they go to a group class.
“You can have a private lesson and see how they get on and if you like it, and from there maybe go to a class. I think that’s a very nice way to go, just to give you a little bit of confidence.”
Even if you can’t make it to a class, why not have a dance around at home – just like Len finds himself doing from time to time?
If you have arthritis, you can take things as gently as you need to, while enjoying the music.
Len is a huge advocate of stretching exercises for arthritis, as well as walking.
He says: “I get aches and pains and problems with my joints: I had a new knee seven years ago. I started using Flexiseq and it’s really good for me.”
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