It’s good to get out of your comfort zone in the exercise realm from time to time. Mix it up, use new muscles and try new things. That is exactly why I signed up for a Ballet Conditioning class.
I went through a phase at the end of 2012 to try a new form of exercise each month. It went very well. I did a beginners course in pole dancing & had a go at a few classes of Xtend Barre. Both as you can see involved dance moves. Both challenged me mentally & physically. It was great to mix with new people & try new things. Christmas and New Year crept in and I fell back into my usual routine of yoga, yoga & more yoga.
I am a closet ballet fan ‘Bunheads’ & ‘Breaking Pointe’ all commands my attention. I loved ‘Black Swan’ & I’m keen to see the ‘First Position’ movie. Swan Lake is coming to town soon too! There is something so powerful and elegant about ballet, I find it fascinating. When the invite to join a Ballet Conditioning class appeared in my inbox I just knew it was time to give it a go. Added bonus I knew the instructor taking the class from yoga so decided it would be a good roll reversal.
I didn’t know what to except when I turned up at the ballet studio in North Fremantle for the 90-minute class. I was dressed in yoga wear and had brought my socks as recommended. Our instructor (who is also a physiotherapist) ran use through the different ballet positions to start with, first to fifth. There was a real focus on the muscles and how to rotate from the hip correctly when doing a turn out which we learned by sitting on the floor.
The class was great fun. We ran through sequences of port de bras to different tempos and then to music. Getting my arms and feet to coordinate was certainly a challenge when plies were introduced. The best part came when we galloped down the studio performing these jump hop moves (Temps leve in arabesque I think?) I was pretty hopeless. It took at least three goes to get it down then it was onto pirouettes. Then I felt like a ballerina. A rather clumsy one yes!
We covered a lot of moves during the class. Our teacher was so helpful with tips and tricks to help our balance as well as a big focus on correct alignment from the start. Every move was explained thoroughly even using the French ballet terms. It certainly was a great workout too. My calves were feeling it from all the relevés & my hamstrings from wrapping them around my femur bone.
I’d definitely go along again, the challenge was great for both my body & my mind. Ballet is a good compliment to my yoga practice too; learning from a physio gave me an added bonus of an anatomy lesson!
For anyone in Perth who’s interested the next Ballet Conditioning class hosted by Yoga Grooves will be held on Saturday 17th July. Check out the info on Facebook or contact Jo for more info and to book: jo@yogagrooves.com
Love Seren xx
Click on image to enlarge
©Seren Holistic Lifestyles Blog 2013
(please share the love with full credit thanks)
Images courtesy of http://www.yogagrooves.com