When you think of ballet, you probably picture in your mind a thin, graceful and beautiful ballerina freely prancing on a dance floor leaving every person that sees her in complete awe. Accurate?
Well, if that’s what you pictured, you’re exactly right. But what’s their secret? Aside from the grace, elegance and beauty of this dance form, ballet is really a total body workout, plus a mental cleanse all wrapped into one.
Here we will explore 7 “less-known” benefits that are worth thinking about the next time you walk by a dance studio window.
1. Long and Lean Muscles.
It tones and sculpts your body. Ballet classes at DanceLova are designed to teach movements that will naturally develop long and lean muscles, not thick ones.
2. Better Posture.
Because it requires the use of good posture and alignment, you will naturally improve awareness of the way you stand, walk, sit and carry out your daily activities.
3. Poise and Confidence.
Ballet classes help improve your poise, confidence, but with a touch of grace. You will repeatedly be taught to do a series of simple exercises called barre exercises. These exercises have been found to be so beneficial that many Hollywood celebrities including pop singer Madonna are obsessed with barre workouts alone!
4. Flatter Tummy.
It makes your waistline become more defined. Ballet class students’ back and ab muscles are strengthened over time, resulting in less back pains and a flatter abdomen — yes, a flatter tummy!
5. Flexibility.
Taking ballet lessons makes your body a lot more flexible. Chances are, the movements you will practice in your next ballet class give you an amazing and effective body flexibility workout because it uses muscles that aren’t often used in other sport activities.
6. Mental and Emotional Health.
Your body isn’t the only part of you that benefits from ballet. Because every ballet student will interpret each dance movement in their unique way, the release of this personal creative expression can be highly-therapeutic, promoting mental and emotional health.
7. Dissolve Stress.
Ballet can melt your daily stresses away. The exercises in ballet class will require you to shift your focus to the proper movement of your hands, placement of your legs and feet, as well as the coordination of your body with music. Ballet students report they actually feel completely removed from the world as they know it.
