Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix,

the Science of Happiness Podcast.

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

to share that science with you.

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

This is a Thinking Loud Podcast from the BBC and for more details in our terms of use and much, much more about thinking aloud, go to our website at BBC.co. UK.

Hello. My career as a dancer is, well it really is littered with failures.

I mean there was the bronze medal in ballroom dancing

that I failed to gain at the age of 15 because my crepe soles shoes stuck to the

dance floor and there was the there was a very nasty accident years later at the

Yorkshire country club where I pogoed so vigorously

that I can cuss myself on a low-hanging Tudor beam.

Stay still, the doctor's on his way, my partner hissed as the other dancers fox trotted around my body. But there was one glorious exception.

By teachers training college we had occasional lessons in what was called free dance and these were given by a truly wonderful woman called Jane

Winerles who went on I believe to become the first full-time university lecturer

in dance. Well Miss Winer's as we had to call her, challenge the dependence of dance on technique and vigorously encouraged improvisation, creativity.

Well, suddenly my gawkiness was no impediment. I no longer needed to regiment my body, restrict my arms and legs,

and in the test I got a B- minus, and I realized for the very first time that dancing could be,

well it could be a form of personal expression rather than a disciplinary exercise.

I thought of that expressive side of dancing as I read a new book called Illicit Worlds of

...