In this episode of the I Am Jen Wilson, The Healing Rebel Podcast, I'm chatting with Jeanique Lourens about something that doesn't get talked about enough - how dance and movement can genuinely transform your mental health and regulate your nervous system.

We're diving into the real stuff: living with ADHD, navigating depression and anxiety, and why movement isn't just exercise - it's medicine. My guest shares her journey from the Caribbean to Glasgow, and how dance has been her lifeline through it all.

What We Cover:

* Dance as mental health medicine - why research shows dance beats yoga, walking, and traditional exercise for managing depression

* ADHD, anxiety & finding what works - lived experience of managing neurodivergence without medication

* Building community in new spaces - moving countries, finding your people, and the power of collaborative networks (shoutout to Glasglow Girls Club!)

* Movement as meditation in motion - getting out of your head and into your body

* Afro-Caribbean music & trauma release - the science behind bass frequencies and releasing stored trauma from the hips

* Nervous system regulation through dance - why shaking off energy matters and how animals teach us about releasing stress

* The gut-brain-fascia connection - trusting your body's wisdom and intuition

* Upcoming workshop: DEN - Dance Embodiment and Nervous System Safety (7th March 2026, Wellbeing Hub, Bridgeton)

Key Topics:

Dance therapyMental health and movement

ADHD managementNervous system regulationTrauma release through movement

Afro-Caribbean healing practices

Community building

Somatic movement

Mind-body connection

Glasgow wellness community

We talk about why mirrors and alcohol have no place in healing spaces, how your body knows what it needs if you can quiet the mind long enough to listen, and the importance of radical responsibility in your healing journey.

This conversation is all about getting out of your head, trusting your body, and finding movement practices that feel like breathing - not another thing on your to-do list.

Resources & Links:

Workshop: DEN - Dance Embodiment and Nervous System Safety📅 7th March 2026, 6:45pm-8:45pm📍 Wellbeing Hub, Bridgeton, Glasgow

https://linktr.ee/rootedwithjeanique

Jeanique Lourens is the founder of Rooted Beyond the Mirror and a Somatic Dance Guide who uses Afro-Latin rhythms, freedom of movement, dance, and breath to create safe spaces for authentic self-expression. She gently guides others out of their minds and back into the present, reconnecting with the inner trust and light that have always been within.

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