Finding release and unusual arthritis remedy on World Arthritis Day
It is 7am in the morning and when the alarm clock goes off, Chrissy Mackey, a PhD graduate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at University of Arizona Global Campus begins to start her day.
But for her, the start of the day isn’t always an easy one. In fact, Chrissy will frequently experience a sense of being locked up with stiff joints suffering from a condition that is a type of arthritis and this can last for nearly an hour.
“I can’t speak for others’ arthritis types, but for me, I know I have to wait about 45 minutes after I wake up before I do anything and movement like burlesque dancing definitely keeps my joints from locking up especially my hips, knees, and ankles.”
As World Arthritis Day is celebrated on the 12th of October every year, we are shining a light on an innovative way people like Chrissy have managed their pain. One of the more unique methods is, in fact, one Chrissy herself employs. In her nights and evenings, she transforms into the cabaret showgirl persona known as Lavinia Vale and performs a vintage style of dance that has enjoyed a revival for the past twenty years called burlesque. This pastime has multiple mental health benefits, not only is it increasing movement, keeping joints more supple and agile, it is also a great laugh and escape from the drudgery of the day to day which helps to relieve mental health stressors.
Burlesque itself stems from an old theatrical tradition. Originally found in Britain in 1850 and across Europe in Parisian music halls and with a burle (Italian for stick) beings used to hit the audience for laughs, the genre originally used parody to mock the upper classes. As it made its way to America more adult entertainment was introduced including the striptease and nipple tassles. These days its achieving mainstream visibility thanks to icons like burlesque star, Dita Von Teese and the dance style is found in forty countries.
The NHS defines Arthritis as “a common condition that causes pain and swelling (inflammation) in the joints. Common symptoms of arthritis include pain, swelling and stiffness in one or more joints. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arthritis/#overview
The Global RA Network, which was founded in 2016 to create a network of support for sufferers across the world, lists on its website that a staggering one percent of the world’s population have arthritis and this equates to than 350 million people https://globalranetwork.org/project/disease-info/. Considering the scope and frequency of those affected around the world it is wonderful a day like World Arthritis Day exists to open up conversation about management, support and remedies. Thanks to modern medicine and holistic treatments, it is a condition that can be managed and many can have a good quality of life following treatment and lifestyle changes.
It’s no wonder the playful and theatrical dance style, burlesque, which has also been linked to increasing body confidence and overall self-esteem has been also adapted as a remedy to combat joint pain, inflammation and pain flares.
For Chrissy, her condition has changed some of her habits but it most certainly has not diminished her spirit and sense of optimism to keep her body moving.
“I have a weird type of arthritis that is associated with Lupus. All of the swelling and pain, none of the erosion (or so I’m told… some of my fingers and toes beg to differ),”Chrissy quips. “It could also be sero-negative RA (which just means I don’t have the RF antibodies that distinctively diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis).”
Starting her burlesque journey in 2019 after seeing a show and discovering classes, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania born Chrissy has had a long history of performance art from acting to opera singing, fire breathing and walking on glass.
Burlesque, however, is a place she feels she has come home. On the stage she can roll all those talents together to create a story and her dance-based acts have the upside of a physical workout, too.
“Burlesque helps my joints and muscles by forcing me to be in the moment and acutely aware of my body. My muscles like to be as loose as rebar or steel I-beams…so, stretching is hugely important, as well as after care like massaging my arms.”
With the cabaret art of burlesque seeing such a global revival, it is no surprise to find someone else in this theatrical world who has a recovery story linked to the dance as a remedy for wellbeing after an Arthritis condition.
In Sweden, Anna Sanderberg, who performs as Ember Raven shares that when she was diagnosed with Arthritis in her twenties she was told the devastating news she would never dance again. With similar determination and resolve, she used this hurdle propel her towards getting stronger and finding a different way to move and express herself. For Anna, finding burlesque after this life-changing news was a similar light at the end of the tunnel.
“What’s fun is that everyone can make their own act in burlesque,” Anna explains. “You get to explore what you find fun and get to show your own personality, fully, and be celebrated for it. I want more people to experience the journey that I have made.”
We encourage you to try burlesque on World Arthritis Day because we are sure, like the characters of Ember Raven and Lavina Vale, you’ll love it, too!
Try burlesque at home with the World Burlesque Academy app there is a free burlesque taster module www.worldburlesqueacademy.com
—Written by Sapphira for Bold Ambition
