| There are many pieces of the puzzle to keep track of | | | | after exercising. |
| in effective ballet training. Hopefully you are taught | | | | Proper diet is essential. Our muscles are made of |
| correct technique in the beginning, as you will develop | | | | what we eat. Our brains also need their share of |
| muscle memory quickly. If not, you will need to unlearn | | | | amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The sheaths that |
| and relearn later. | | | | hold our muscles and nerves also need to be |
| Daily routines done at home need to be rotated | | | | maintained properly or we develop inflammation and |
| around the muscle groups, so as not to create an | | | | nerve pain. Keeping up hydration with periodic sipping |
| overtraining mode by accident. | | | | of water is vital. You cannot train and neglect your |
| For example in an exercise to strengthen your core | | | | body! |
| muscles, you lie on your side, resting your head on the | | | | Your muscles must rebuild properly as you study and |
| bottom arm. Your legs are straight, not turned out, and | | | | grow. If they cannot, you will feel fatigued and perhaps |
| your feet are just slightly in front of your hips. Your | | | | even depressed or nervous. As we are whole biologic |
| spine is straight as though you are standing, so your | | | | machines (although much more than that!), and not a |
| waist is not touching the floor. | | | | separate nervous system and muscle/skeletal system, |
| You raise both legs together, maintaining your posture, | | | | we will feel negative emotions of some kind if our |
| and without straining your neck and shoulders. If there | | | | body is exhausted. A day of rest is essential, and |
| is strain, just raise the top leg, until you can maintain | | | | keeps life balanced. It will get all the other gazillion things |
| your posture without strain. Here you are creating | | | | done...... |
| muscle memory of a correct standing postural plumb | | | | Whether your daily routines are focused on pre-pointe |
| line, and building the strength to hold it while doing all | | | | or generally to build strength over-all, developing |
| your ballet exercises. | | | | correct muscle memory and avoiding overtraining will |
| If you do this one for three days, and a turnout | | | | lead you towards success. |
| exercise the fourth, go back to it days 5 & 6, then | | | | There is a lot more to say about all of this. I hope this |
| just rest a day, your muscles get to work, relax and | | | | will set you thinking towards health and balance! |
| recover. Be sure to relax and gently stretch every day | | | | |