Salsa Saved My Sanity (And My Marriage… Sort Of)
When my husband and I signed up for a six-week salsa class — 12 sessions in total — our goal was pretty straightforward: make it through…
When my husband and I signed up for a six-week salsa class — 12 sessions in total — our goal was pretty straightforward: make it through without embarrassing ourselves too badly. This wasn’t about falling in love with the art of dance or unleashing some hidden talent. We just wanted to survive date night, try something different, and escape our usual routine of Netflix marathons and arguing about which kid left their sock in the hallway.
We didn’t plan to keep dancing after the class ended. And spoiler alert: we didn’t. But those 12 classes? They turned out to be so much more than we bargained for.
The First Class: A Humbling Start
The first session was a reality check. Within minutes, I learned two very humbling truths:
My hips have the mobility of an IKEA bookshelf.
Salsa is a lot harder when your partner (aka my husband) insists on loudly counting “one-two-three, five-six-seven” while simultaneously tripping over your feet.
It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t glamorous. But it was hilarious. And somewhere in the middle of fumbling through basic steps and nearly toppling over during spins, I noticed something unexpected: for the first time in what felt like forever, my mind was focused entirely on one thing.
I wasn’t stressing about work emails. I wasn’t thinking about my endless to-do list or whether the chicken in the freezer would defrost in time. (Spoiler: it wouldn’t.) I was fully present, caught up in the rhythm of the music and the challenge of just making it through the class.
Dancing Through the Chaos
The best part about salsa is that you don’t have to be good at it to have fun. The music does something to you. Even if your feet are out here betraying you, the rhythm doesn’t let you sit still.
By the second or third class, I started noticing changes. My posture improved — because you can’t salsa hunched over like a gremlin. My energy levels picked up. And my stress? It melted away, one awkward spin at a time. It turns out that salsa is cheaper than therapy and way more effective than doom-scrolling Instagram when you need to decompress.
Partnering Up (and Not Just for the Steps)
One of the biggest surprises was how these six weeks affected my marriage. My husband and I went from co-parents and roommates juggling schedules to partners in the truest sense. For an hour twice a week, we were a team — laughing at our missteps, celebrating small victories (like finally nailing a turn), and just enjoying each other’s company.
There’s something uniquely bonding about learning a new skill together. It wasn’t about being perfect or even particularly good; it was about trying, failing, and laughing. It reminded us that connection doesn’t always have to be deep or serious.
Wellness, But Make It Fun
Before this class, I thought wellness was supposed to be all kale smoothies and 10,000 steps a day. Salsa showed me a different path. For six weeks, wellness looked like chasing the beat of the music, leaving my worries on the dance floor (or at least in the parking lot), and letting go of the need to be perfect.
It wasn’t about mastering the moves but about showing up, letting loose, and embracing the joy of being a beginner again. And honestly, it felt amazing.
Why You Should Try It
We didn’t continue dancing after those six weeks ended, and I’m okay with that. Those 12 classes were exactly what we needed: a little escape, a lot of laughter, and a reminder that trying something new can be its own reward.
Key Message: If you want to shake things up (pun fully intended), try salsa or any dance. Don’t worry about being good. You might discover a rhythm you didn’t know you had — and maybe even a version of yourself that’s lighter, freer, and a lot more fun.
Thank you for reading! I’d love to connect with you. Visit www.shaunteyoung.com and follow me on Instagram.
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