1969 was a tumultuous, transformative year. While young men fought & died in an unpopular war in Southeast Asia, hundreds of thousands of young people gathered in a muddy field for a weekend of peace & music, and Neil Armstrong took one small step for man.

The music reflected the seriousness of the time. Songs like “Fortunate Son,” “The Age of Aquarius” and “Everyday People” spoke of activism & social justice. Into this musical mix bounced the bubble-gum hit “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies.

At a time when young people were grappling with war & civil unrest, this song felt out of step with the times. Yet on & on it played throughout the Summer of ’69, earning #1 status on Sept. 20th. In fact, Billboard named “Sugar, Sugar” #1 in its Year-End Countdown! Can you imagine?

How did you feel about “Sugar, Sugar?” I hated it! As a 14 year-old woman of the world, this song insulted my emerging activist sensibilities. (Please excuse my overblown sense of teenage self-importance here).

So no one felt more surprised than me when “Sugar, Sugar” recently played on the radio & I found myself smiling at the memory of it. “Gee, that’s a catchy tune,” I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to dance around to it?”

So exercising my prerogative to change my mind about childhood preferences (hello, Brussel sprouts!), I shamelessly present to you this week’s Dance with Me video, “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. Whatever your original feelings about it, I invite you to listen with fresh ears. The smile on my face? Yes, it’s real. Dare I say it? “Sugar, Sugar” makes me smile!

What else makes me smile? Welcoming new & returning yogis to our Midlife Yoga community! Anytime you'd like to join us for this online, beginner-friendly practice, click right here to register.

Remember, when you move better, you feel better. So whether it's a 3-minute bubble-gum dance or a 60-minute gentle yoga class, let's get moving together!

Until next time,

~ Rosemary