Jonathan van Ness has had a whirlwind month. Following the release of his highly anticipated (and very personal) memoir Over the Top just a few weeks ago, he's been understandably overwhelmed and taking this opportunity to ground himself through some of his favorite activities.
"This last month has been very stressful, so I’m being gentle with myself right now," Van Ness tells us during an interview for his partnership with Zumba in celebration of World Mental Health Day. "[With this book] I’ve been more vulnerable with the universe than I’ve ever been before."
So how does he cope when he's feeling more tired and anxious than usual? By dancing (which comes as no surprise to anyone who follows his morning coffee choreography). “Dancing and moving my body in general has always been my escape—even as a kid. Whether I was doing my carpet figure skating routines or nailing it on my trampoline, movement has always helped me throughout different stages in my life,” he explains.
“There have been times, like in 2012, where I’ve felt very depressed and not on my physical activity game. I stopped being active for three months and Zumba and hot yoga were my entry points back into feeling better," says Van Ness.
