Mel B: Why I've moved away from my 'balls to the wall' approach to exercise
Mel B has shared how dance and movement have supported her through every stage of her life.
The pop sensation, Mel B has opened up about using dance and movement as a “form of healing” during her SXSW London appearance with Zumba. During a panel hosted by the brand, Stay Loud. Stay Well, Mel candidly opened up about why she ditched her “all-or-nothing” approach to exercise.
The panel opened with the singer lighting one of her signature sage sticks on stage to “clear the energy” before the discussion turned to movement, mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Mel revealed how dance and movement have supported her through every stage of her life, from growing up with severe ADHD to using movement as a form of healing during her emotionally abusive marriage, to why women over 30 are not given enough advice about looking after their bodies.
Mel said: “I do not think GP’s inform enough of what we’re meant to do as women when we get into our 30s and mid-30s.” Adding that she has moved away from her previous “balls to the walls” approach to exercise, admitting she used to do “six spin classes a week” alongside hot yoga before realising “that isn’t sustainable” and shifting towards more realistic and enjoyable ways of moving.
She spoke of her love for Zumba, explaining: “It’s not so strict. As long as you know the basic sidestep, you can just do your own thing all over it, which is very, very freeing.”
Zumba CMO Carolina Moraes discussed the growing science-backed links between movement and emotional wellbeing, highlighting why community-driven fitness like Zumba resonates beyond traditional workouts.
Carolina said: “What science is finally waking up to is that it’s not only important that you exercise, it’s important how you exercise. Exercising in community, with other people, helps combat isolation and makes people stick to exercise for longer.”
Mel also touched upon everyday wellness hacks back home with her husband, Rory McPhee, including infrared saunas, ice baths, “brain breaks” and improv dancing around their farmhouse in Leeds.
Sharing how movement spills into every aspect of their relationship, from judging a dance competition for her 33 hen do guests to ditching a traditional choreographed first dance at their Morocco wedding in favour of “jumping around” together to Prince’s I Would Die 4 U.
She also reflected on her motivation to go back to university to study a trauma-informed care course at Leeds Beckett University at the age of 50.
Mel said: “I really wanted to understand exactly what trauma looks like in the brain. Abuse can happen to anybody. And through that, I found all the stuff that I've been doing since I got out of that relationship has really helped me understand myself more.
“To be able to move and be able to look in the mirror and just go, yes, today I'm not going to be down on myself just for today.”
The 51-year-old singer from Leeds has also been speaking about the upcoming Spice Girls’ 30th anniversary.