Member Reviews
Dianne Buswell seems a kind, honest and genuinely nice person and it was quite restorative to read her book. Although much of the advice will seem familiar to those interested in wellbeing, it is a helpful reminder and is communicated with her own personal slant.
I read an electronic copy of the book but think it would work much better as a physical book so that you can flick backwards and forwards. I also found the exercises a bit laborious to read through and work out when we are so used to accessing online content these days. Maybe Dianne could supplement the book with some YouTube videos?
A sweet book that will leave you feeling a bit more positive and inspired to get moving.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dianne Buswell always comes across as so happy and positive on Strictly Come Dancing and this book is a wonderful extension of that positivity. In 'Move Yourself Happy', Dianne describes her Four Pillars in her approach to wellbeing. 1 is movement, 2 is nutrition, 3 is rest and 4 is positivity. The book looks at these four pillars in more detail with advice on wellbeing and positivity. There's also yoga, pilates and dance moves to incorporate into your daily life as well as nutritional advice and recipes. The last part of the book is '21 Days to a Stronger, Happier You' which includes exercise routines designed to get your body moving more. What I like about this is the fact that none of these routines are long and all can be done at home with just an exercise mat. I think this 21 day programme will be easier to follow with a physical book as it does involve going back to earlier images to remind yourself of the poses/moves. Throughout this book Dianne is very honest about her own wellbeing, admitting to getting anxious sometimes and the things she does to help this. I really admire this honesty throughout the book. Overall, this is a really uplifting, easy to follow book, with great images and some positive ideas to try. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was very appealing as I go to a couple of dance classes and would love to find some extra routines to do at home. Probably because I slightly misread the blurb I found it wasn't for me. There were some nice ideas about positivity which anyone could benefit from. But instead of new routines to learn I found a rather dry list of mostly yoga/pilates exercises some of which I felt needed a live example to make the correct movements. I would really love to see this book supported by youtube clips instead of words and static photos. Lots of books now have supporting media and this book would be 1000% better with a chance for the reader to follow footage of dance-based exercise routines.
A beautiful resource to add to your collection of fitness and health resources. The pictures really demonstrate the moves and add in the practices.
A heartwarming and motivational book, lots of tips and techniques to help you get active all written in a very approachable and friendly way.
Move Yourself Happy by TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Dianne Buswell aims to give suggestions towards achieving good physical and mental well-being. There are simple recipes, exercise moves including: yoga, dance; tap and ballet, (although I’m not sure how easy it would be to pick up the moves from written descriptions, YouTube would be surely be better to see demonstrations?) Also, the author gives tips for dealing with stress and to help gain a positive mental attitude, diary prompts and exhortations to move in ways you enjoy and which feel good for your body.
Unfortunately the style of writing is extremely simplistic, not particularly enjoyable to read as it’s so repetitive. I thought it could have been edited down to half the length. A lot of the tips are regurgitated current trends, I’d be surprised if there were still people who did not know that eating ‘real’ (non-processed) food and establishing good sleep patterns are key for maintaining good health, likewise the benefits of exercise, or movement as is the current buzzword (which I prefer as is less suggestive of a regime and more enjoyment focussed.)
This book will appeal to some and no doubt will offer some good tips. Indeed I took note of the breathing exercises and the advice about ‘crowding out your plate’ with good healthy foods, rather than thinking in terms of restriction and about what you must not eat.
However it was the mixed messages which concerned me; namely about MOVEMENT being natural and healthy, something that you should do because you want to and because it feels good, then almost in the next paragraph there would be a section about planning EXERCISE into her diary, making it a priority goal. This is contradictory and seems to take the message back into timetabling what you must do, rather than the exhortation to enjoy natural free-flowing movement. Ultimately I did not find this inspiring.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
This was such a wonderful book I can’t wait to acquire and share with others. Move yourself happy has great techniques, motivational quotes, and life tips to help you become your best self! Dianne has a great voice and presentation of her program that really makes it feel like fun instead if a chore, highly recommended
Really like Dianne Buswell on Strictly and she is just as full of energy and sunshine in this book. Basically find ways to enjoy moving and incorporate into your life. Definitely made me want to try.
Dianne is one of the professional dancers on Strictly Come Dancing, partnered this year with DJ Tyler West. A former dance partner was YouTuber Joe Sugg and they are partners in real life.
You'll be surprised to know that the vibrant Australian, who grew up in a sporty and active household, became fixated on losing weight as a dancer, and found her energy levels plummeting so badly she dreaded performing in case she couldn't get through it.
She started to work on her diet and noticed that eating differently on big competition days gave her energy from start to finish.
Dianne's eating advice is all about enjoying whole foods rather than processed meals and refined sugar. She acknowledges the need for snacking, particularly in her line of work, and prepares food in advance.
She has some delicious recipes for wholesome snacks and they are simple to make. Even better, the recipes are usually for one person. I imagine this book being a perfect companion for a young person living on their own for the first time.
The nutritional advice is very sound, no crash diets or dietary restrictions. Dianne is a vegan who eats dairy. She relishes everything in moderation.
Moving on from nutrition, Dianne advocates a lot of rest and creativity: she writes letters to her 95 year old grandfather as recreation. There are inspiring weekly mantras and journalling prompts, and mood-boosting lifestyle hacks, such as having a 5-minute kitchen disco and creating your own self-care sanctuary in your home.
The 21 Get Moving Plan will get you dancing like a Strictly pro. The moves include ballet, jive, tap and salsa, all with clear instructions and photos. Pilates exercises are included to strength and sculpt.
A lovely book for anyone who wants to increase their vitality and find happiness through movement.
The book will be published on 14 Mar 2023. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy.
Move Yourself Happy 0 Dianne Buswell
I was so happy to be able to delve into this book and it didn't disappoint, I loved the easy flow of the book, with insights into Diane's lifestyle and diet, exercise ideas and recipes to try. This would make a lovely gift for a friend or family member or even just for yourself. Thank you very much NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for the e-arc in return for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'Move Yourself Happy' by Dianne Buswell.
I've been a fan of Dianne's since she became a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. From her charisma to her gorgeous red hair - which may have been an inspiration for my own- - she was an inspiration to a younger me. When I recieved this ARC, I was excited because yoga and looking after yourself was all up Dianne's alley and she always seems to be happy and healthy and I wanted that. Reading this book made me feeling joyous and I wanted to continue my health journey. From recipes, anecdotes and exercise positions (with helpful pictures) this book is for everyone. I definitely will be buying my own copy of this book when it comes out in 2023.
This is a book that lends itself to browsing. You could reread it every time you feel the need to start a new fitness regime. It deserves to fly off the shelves come the New Year.
This is about fitness but based on the principal that movement makes us happy. Or happier. This is easy to follow the advice as it is not advocating exercise that makes you wince but just taking the opportunity to move more in our daily lives. I liked the advice about taking morning coffee out into the garden for a walk round, connecting with nature. This gives me something, as an older reader, that I can manage.
Diane comes across as a gentle soul and her advice is gentle too. It is interspersed with stories about how she manages exercise and about her own life. There is no compulsory dancing! There are a number of photos of Diane which lighten the whole.
I enjoyed reading this and will dip back in when I need a boost. I read a copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers but my views are my own.
This was such a fun and great book to acquire. Full review to come. I was not familiar with Dianne before, but so enjoyed her programme to get your body up and moving. It was so fun and easy to follow. It felt like more fun than work. I highly think our readers are going to enjoy this!
fun and highly accessible guide to transforming your mental and physical wellbeing through joyful movement from TV personality and celebrity dancer Dianne Buswell.
In this enriching 21-day programme, Dianne Buswell shows you how to make joyful movement a habit. Forget gruelling exercise regimes or punishing diets – Dianne’s unique approach nourishes your body and mind using her four pillars of health: rest, movement, nutrition and positivity.
Move Yourself Happy offers step-by-step explanations of core moves from yoga, Pilates and dance, including jive, tap and ballet. It also contains Dianne’s favourite recipes, like her delicious homemade chocolate granola or spinach gnocchi, as well as inspiring weekly mantras and journaling prompts, fun daily movement routines and mood-boosting lifestyle hacks, such as having a 5-minute kitchen disco and creating your own self-care sanctuary in your home. This book will transform your relationship with movement and help you feel happier, every day
What a beautiful book full of simple moves you can try every day to help improve your health and mood. Diannes warmth and love of dance comes though the page and I loved the fact that every move was accompanied by a lovely photo to show you exactly what to do. You don’t need to be the fittest person on the planet for these moves either and this would work for anyone at any level.
Move Yourself Happy: The Buswellness way to strength and vitality in 21 days is a feel good program based on dance, yoga and pilates. A high level, fun guide to improving your physical fitness and mental well being through movement and dance. It is really aimed at those who don't do much exercise to begin with but also looks at other well being aspects such as nutrition, rest and positivity. I particularly liked the recipe idea for yoghurt bark and will be trying that one myself. It is probably more of a gift book and one for dipping into. The section on yoga poses is good, with clear demonstrative photographs. Overall a good colourful book.