In this episode I speak with Emma Smallman who created Drum n Bounce, a fitness class with a drum and bass soundtrack. Emma talks to us about the impact of fitness on mental health and how important this became during the pandemic and also silent disco classes. We discuss the importance of inclusivity giving access to a wide range of people and her journey to studying trauma informed yoga and the prison yoga project.  Learn how trauma impacts your nervous system, how trauma informed yoga can support healing and the power of somatic practices. Emma’s energy is powerful and she has so much to share with us.

About Emma:
Emma Smallman, based in Birmingham and originally from up north with a few strings to her bow. As a qualified Exercise to Music instructor she created ‘drum n bounce & dubstretch fitness’ back in 2012. Drum n Bounce is an uplifting dance fitness class to drum & bass music designed to bring joy to people, along with all the wonderful physical and mental health benefits of an exercise class. Over the last 10 years she has taught weekly fitness classes as well as taking drum n bounce to events nationally including music festivals such as Shambala, Nozstock, Bestival, Boomtown, Deer Shed, Wonderfields, Mostly Jazz, Lunar and Magical to name but a few. Emma’s passion is about bringing people together, creating joyful experiences and supporting people to connect with their bodies. In 2017 Emma qualified as a Real Flow Yoga teacher and last year added to that with a 200 hour Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training with the Prison Yoga Project. This Yoga, Social Justice and Leadership training enables her to serve an even wider range of individuals by offering movement to those in recovery from substance misuse, women who have experienced domestic abuse, people coming out of prison and also chair yoga to those who have mobility issues. Alongside this Emma is an actor and facilitator for Geese Theatre Company. She has worked for the charity since 2009 whose remit is to work within the criminal justice system and with social welfare issues using the arts as a vehicle for individual change.

Website: www.drumnbounce.co.uk
Instagram: @drumnbounce
Facebook: @drumnbounce