05/09/2026
To kick off our 2026 Liptember community stories, I am stepping into the spotlight first! For our 6th year, we are skipping the standard charity event to highlight the real, beautiful, and diverse voices of our Zumba with Bec crew. By sharing our stories one at a time, we hope to smash stigmas, celebrate our inclusive Blue Mountains community, and raise vital funds for the Liptember Foundation. Here is a little glimpse into my own mental health journey... ✨
•How does dancing with our Zumba crew boost your mood?
"It’s pure joy! As an introverted extrovert with anxiety, walking into a room full of smiling faces completely resets my brain. The music takes over; we smile, we yell out, we pose and make silly faces, we laugh when we go the wrong way and any heavy thoughts just melt away on the dance floor. I feel that dance and Zumba are a form of mindfulness, there is no time to think about anything else or ruminate as you are completely in the present moment whether you are instructing or participating.”
•What does our Zumba community mean to your mental well-being?
"It means everything. I started Zumba with Bec because dancing, specifically Zumba helped me so much with my anxiety and depression that I wanted to pay it forward, help others and spread joy. The Zumba with Bec community we have created together over the last 11 years is a safe inclusive space where we connect, break the stigma, and remind each other that we are never alone."
•How do you "shake off the blues" during a busy week?
"I use 'dopamine dressing'—putting on bright, expressive outfits or a bold lip to instantly lift my energy. If I'm physically tracking toward burnout or a migraine, I shake off the blues by stepping away to recharge quietly with a rest if I can, re-watching a favourite TV series, photography, a craft project, or tending to my cactus garden."
•How do you find time for self-care in your busy schedule?
"I’ve had to learn the hard way that rest is a necessity, not a reward for productivity!
I schedule downtime just like a fitness class. For me, self-care looks like slipping away to a quiet local café for brunch, a clinical pilates or massage session, a little sweet treat, or just enjoying my own company in a peaceful space."
•What is one daily habit that keeps you feeling grounded?
"Since being diagnosed with AuDHD three years ago, understanding my neurodivergent brain has been life-changing. My number one grounding habit is giving myself permission to listen to my body, unmask and have completely quiet, alone time every single day to let my nervous system settle."
•How do you manage the invisible "mental load" of everyday life?
"By being honest about my limits and sharing the load. I try to normalize talking about the messy parts of life, because hiding them makes the load heavier. I think this is incredibly important to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage community connection. When the mental chatter gets too noisy, apart from Zumba I lean into my sense of humour and my creative passions like interior design, vintage/op-shopping and collecting or crafting to give my mind a happy place to focus. Even just photographing small moments from my phone camera helps to keep me present and hopeful, glimmers of joy are so important.”
•Finally, do you have any favourite quotes?
“Two quotes by RuPaul Charles:
“If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” and my favourite “What other people think of me is not my business.”
🧠 HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Help us smash our 2026 goal!
Share Bec’s story, comment, rock a bright lip to class this month and donate to our team tally using the QR Code in the photos or the link here:
https://www.liptember.com.au/rebecca-bec-lewis
Donations of any size are very much appreciated!
