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Shuffle, Ball Change

Shuffle, Ball Change

If you're having a bad day, please, please, please check out this New York Times video about Juliana Sadock Savino, a 54-year-old fibromyalgia sufferer who took up tap dancing in order to relieve chronic pain associated with the condition.

The former classical musician was discovered by a New York Times reporter after writing in a response to a story about dancing. "I recently, at the age of 54, took up tap dancing," she wrote. "I swear it's good for whatever ails you, though my big toe might disagree. To dance is joy!"

The reporter traveled to Ohio to get to know the spunky Savino a bit better. In the video Savino taps around her kitchen and jokes that her son makes fun of her for practicing shuffle, ball change in line at the grocery store. She also explains that she took up dancing after playing her bass for long amounts of time became too painful and was later surprised by how therapeutic tap dancing was.

Watching her express so much joy in the four-minute clip, one would never know that she has to take opiates on a daily basis to battle constant pain. She makes you want to get up and dust off your dancin' shoes.

This video is a great reminder that a positive attitude can help you manage just about any diagnosis. Have you taken up any new activities since being diagnosed? How have they helped you ease your pain.

Posted: 10/17/08
carolineshannon

I love this! Dancing has always been a great tool for making me feel better. I may not be too good at it, but it sure does make me feel good to shake my groove thang!

SunnySide

Wow, what a refreshing story. I took up biking to help me with my illness...there are times when I'm too sick to do it, for sure, but when I'm doing okay, I feel healthier in my body and definitely mind. It can be the one bright spot in the day! But at least there is one!

Kiki76

Most people in great pain stop moving all together, which is the worst thing to do! I don't have chronic pain but whenever I've been injured I do try to get up and get around as much as I can. It really helps!

  • By Kiki76
  • on 10/17/08 1:29 PM EST