When I was younger, exercise was never a chore, a self-imposed requirement, or done for any reason other than to have fun [1]. I played on multiple sports teams, ran around with my friends at recess, and rode my bike through my neighbourhood. But at some point between childhood and early adolescence, my mindset about exercise shifted.

Don't get me wrong — I love how I feel after a good workout, and my mental health is always improved when I exercise consistently. But I can't deny that my reasoning for working out isn't as pure as it was when I was a kid. It's often tied to my body image — even if I'm not trying to change how I look, I'm almost always trying to maintain consistency in my appearance. And if I'm being completely honest with myself, it's been too long since I went into a workout believing it would be fun and not simply something that I'd feel good about when it was over.

I decided I needed to change that. Besides taking longer walks and hikes (I've learned that's one of my favourite ways to clear my mind and move my body), I started dancing, specifically to Disney workouts. I'm not a great dancer, but that's not the point — it's just fun to do! Many of the moves are also rooted in specific exercises versus dance steps, so even someone with two left feet like me can figure it out! But more than anything, the Disney soundtracks [2] help me let loose and centre myself in the mindset of childhood, and I love singing along realising I still know all the words the same way I did when I was 8 years old.

I put together a list of 10 of my favourite Disney dance workouts [3] — and a few I still want to try! — so they'd all be in one convenient place. If you're looking to have fun, feel young, and get in a good sweat session, look no further than this list.