Sudbury couple dances their way to fitness and closeness

Morning North7:17Wellness Column - dancing

Wellness through "dancing date night"... The CBC's Jan lakes spoke with Carol-Lynn Poulin Hawes about how she and her husband Gary stay fit and happy by going to dance class together once a week.
A few years ago, Carol-Lynn PoulinHawesand her husband Gary Hawessigned up for ballroom and latin dancing at the Sudbury YMCA.With six boys to look after, they made the decision to dedicate one night a week to themselves.

Carol-Lynn Poulin Hawes says it is paying off on many levels.

"It is kind of our date night for the week."

Now that theiryoungest is 13, they have the freedom to get dressed up and go out.

The dedication that they've made to dance night has not gone unnoticed said Hawes.In the past, when they were too busy and didn't go, the kids would say "hey, aren't you going to your dance class?"

Dancing and laughing together

Hawes says their dance nights are setting an example for her boys: in a relationship, it is important to make an effort and go and seek something challenging and different together.

The couple dances with others who feel the same way.

"What came to us as a very big surprise is that there are a lot of different community halls that actually host these beautiful ballroom dances," Hawessaid.

Despite heavy pressures of life, the couple is able to laugh and be close and intimate, Hawesadded.

"When you walk in the door you tend to forget about all the stresses that are waiting for you outside of it."