Ballet Conditioning

10Am

This- my first ballet workout- was intense physically and mentally. I knew it wouldn't be easy because I'd seen the entire workout already. Really- it was harder than I had expected.

Fantastic: I really don't need a lot of space to do this routine. All I need is enough space for the length of my body on the floor including my outstretched arms, and a mat.

Struggle: Any move that involves a standing leg and then movement of the other leg is hard. It's important to stand strongly and not to sink into the standing leg. It is equally important not to sway as I make my moves. Again, this is harder than it appears. Using a chair to assist with balance is suggested and beneficial.

Impossible: Bringing my knee to hip height and then extending the entire leg straight in any direction. Front. Side. Back. Extending backwards may be the hardest because I can't just lean forward to compensate for the movement. This is where strength and pain enters the picture. I am certain this is where buns of mush become buns of steel.

Mental Strength: It's so easy to quit. It's much harder to stick through something and finish stronger than I was when I started. This will be one of those things. I will not give up on ballet even though my thighs get in the way of my first position forward bends.

There is a short section that includes jumps to introduce cardio and increase my heart rate. The burst of whimsical energy is welcomed after the strength training of the legs. I have a tile floor so jumping on my mat is key. There is a bit of core work via Pilate's at the end. This is stressful for the neck, but I will make adjustments (laying my head down) until I build strength.

50 minutes went by relatively quickly. I sweat profusely, especially during the Pilate's core work and the squats on raised heels.

I'll take some time to recover via other workouts, but I'm looking forward to my next ballet session.