|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ballet for fitness and fun
|
|
|
Get great posture, toned muscles and a solid mind-body connection with this classical art.
|
|
|
By Kat Tancock
|
|
|
|
|
Are you looking for a new way to have fun and challenge your mind and body while gaining a new skill? Why not try ballet? Yes, most professional ballerinas tend to be ultrathin and hyperflexible, but that doesn't mean ordinary mortals can't enjoy the physical and mental benefits of this dance art. Instructor Robert McCollum, manager of the adult ballet program at the National Ballet School in Toronto, gives the lowdown on what to know before you sign up.
Tone your body
Ballet comes with a number of physical benefits, from stronger muscles and increased flexibility to better posture. "Once you have good posture," McCollum says, "all your joints work better, and aspects of your body come more into focus than they would otherwise." You can also expect an increase in body awareness, especially in the earlier stages of training. As you go further, McCollum says, "overall muscle tone gets more refined -- the muscles are strong, but they're still lean. Ballet training produces strength without increasing bulk."
While more advanced dancers get cardio benefits from their dance training, beginners and those at intermediate stages should add another heart-friendly activity to balance their workout routine. "If you're coming to one or two ballet classes a week, complement that, twice a week, with taking a good 15- to 20-minute power walk around your neighbourhood," says McCollum.
Strengthen your mind
When you're challenging your body with ballet moves, you're also keeping your mind sharp as you multitask. You have to use your brain power to remember combinations, to time your movements and match them to the music, McCollum says. He also notes that one news magazine recently published a story on different activities and their benefits for the brain, and dance was listed as the number one activity. "We have a woman here that's about 79 and she believes that her mental powers have increased since she started here about two years ago," he says. "She's enjoying it, and we help her suit the material to her age and her body capability. She's finding incredible increased mental power."
Find comfort in your body
Ballet can also help to boost body confidence because when your skills develop, you learn to appreciate what your body can do. McCollum also believes that the better posture that comes from regular ballet practice has an extremely positive effect on your sense of self because when you stop slouching, your muscle tone changes and there's a sense of "upness" in your muscle tone. "I've seen women, in particular, change their outlook. I was very pleased and, quite humbly, honoured that one of my students wrote a story that was published in the Globe and Mail's Facts and Arguments section about my classes. She told me personally that after taking ballet, she didn't look in the mirror the same way."
Page 1 of 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 more articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
