Fiona Bool, director and founder of Dandelion, tells Louisa Daley about her Movement and Mindfulness concept.
When it comes to wellbeing, it’s important to take care of not only our bodies, but also our minds, particularly in our fast-paced industry. The question is, how do we achieve both of these things simultaneously? To find an answer, Louisa Daley talks to Fiona Bool, director and founder of Dandelion, a company that strives to promote positive workplace wellbeing, about her Movement and Mindfulness concept.
Movement and Mindfulness
“Movement and Mindfulness is a judgement-free, expressive arts class open to anyone regardless of their previous experience with dance, yoga, music, meditation or spiritual practice,” says Bool.
But it’s not your typical movement class where you follow a set routine, she tells me. “This class encourages the individual to explore their own mind, body and movement, led by storytelling or sensory props such as ribbons and balloons,” she explains.
Throughout Bool’s classes, individuals are guided by seven primary areas of mindfulness: breath, sound, body, story, mind, spirit and fusion. These areas of mindfulness, Bool says, strive to help participants “explore their thoughts and connect with movement in a safe space.”
Movement and Mindfulness classes typically run from 30 to 90 minutes. However, Bool reveals she has recently been working on a series of 10 to 15-minute ‘break exercises’, making it ideal for eventprofs to fit into their busy working day.
Wellbeing benefits
So, what wellbeing benefits does Movement and Mindfulness offer? I ask Bool. Apart from physical wellbeing benefits, such as keeping individuals fit, healthy and balanced, using Movement and Mindfulness in a workplace environment has many mental and social wellbeing benefits, too.
For example, “it’s great for social interaction, relationships and team building,” she reveals. Not only does the class help remove barriers between people and teams, as well as create mutual respect and awareness, it also allows colleagues to get to know each other in a “fun and non-threatening manner,” she says.
On an individual eventprof level, “Movement and Mindfulness helps improve mood, self-esteem and confidence as well as reduce stress, which ultimately increases happiness”, she adds. Furthermore, it helps develop attention and concentration levels, which Bool argues can “open new possibilities for problem-solving, creativity, decision-making and action.”
Whether you want to take part in these classes individually or as a team, taking care of our mental and physical wellbeing has never been more important. So, why not take the chance to disconnect and reconnect now?
