December 7, 2014

Some Updates–website update, the Nutcracker + Pointe!

So I’ve finally gotten around to doing some updates on the blog, mostly because I’ve been sick the past few days and haven’t made it to a ballet class or been able to go running. So I’ve done some messing around with a redesign to make stuff more readable and easier to find. Getting the studio stuff all in a line again is going to take a little bit longer…but we’re working on it.

On to ballet updates:

Although I’m feeling like crap for not having made it to a class since before Thanksgiving, things are going well. I’m so happy I get to learn choreography to Nutcracker music since I missed all of that last year thanks to my injury. Recently, I’ve also started doing some pre-pointe work again. I wish I had an awesome picture to share here, but I don’t. I’ll have to take one before the holidays start-up again.

HQ and I have also recently joined a gym, so hopefully I’ll get to improve my cardio more (since it really sucks right now).

Share your lovely ballet updates with me!

(PS sending out a round of emails this morning to those who submitted to be featured on the site!)

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog Tagged With: , , , 5 Comments
October 24, 2014

Beginner Danseur Profile: Don Wilson

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This week’s profile is of Don Wilson, one of my classmates at Philly Dance Fitness who started at our studio 6 months ago. Read more about him below:

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

6 months ago I began taking Beginner 1 at Philly Dance Fitness.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

No, but wish I had!

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

There are SO many reasons… For starters, I love to dance! Working at a desk most days, it’s nice to have a fun form of exercise. We men also tend to be a little too stiff in our general movements, so another goal was to move more fluidly and gracefully in everyday life. With only the reasons above, any dance probably would have been great but there’s just something about ballet that’s therapeutic. It’s so graceful, requires so much strength and concentration that it’s impossible to be thinking about problems at work or home when taking the class or practicing at home.

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Adult Ballerinas, Ballerina Profiles, Ballet, Interviews Tagged With: , , Leave a Comment
October 22, 2014

Cross Training–Arm Strength

“Dancers often lack upper body strength. We spend so much of our time focusing on what the legs and feet are doing that we neglect the upper body,” says Nikol Klein, a former dancer and personal trainer.

I didn’t realize how true this was until I started doing arm workouts last summer. I now have a better understanding of how much arm strength can affect not only port de bras but also posture and overall movement quality.

Thanks to the internet, it’s easy and inexpensive to improve arm strength. Here are some workout videos I’ve found helpful:

Without Weights

Andrea Palen, 5 Minute Arm Workout

 

Ballet Beautiful, Swan Arms Workout

 

With Weights (Or water bottles)

Nikol Klein, Ballet Strength Arm Exercises for Port de Bras

 

Arm-Toning Moves from Ballet Body

 

Blogalites, Applause Arms Workout

 

Fitness Blender, Tank Top Arms Workout

Filed Under: Ballet, Info, Outside Class Tagged With: , , , Leave a Comment
October 20, 2014

Things Have Been A Little Crazy Around Here…

…but I’ve still been going to ballet, more than I used to. I just haven’t had time to write about it. But it’s been going really well. I’ve finally been able to go to class consistently, which has made me feel a lot stronger than I have been. I also finally feel like I’m starting to get some of my flexibility back.

My feet still seem really weak — although my calves seem really strong — so I really need to keep working on therabanding and other foot strengthening exercises.

I haven’t really been running as much, besides a race and a fun run in late September and early October. Here’s a photo from the fun run on a new boardwalk on the river here:FullSizeRender (2)

I plan on starting to run more now that things are slowing down a bit and recent things have given me a bit more of inspiration to start running some more, including the boardwalk opening and reading What I Think About When I Think About Running by Haruki Murakami. I plan on starting super slow again, to be extra careful.

Other things we’ve been up to:

A trip to the Baltimore aquarium where my friend got engaged:FullSizeRender

Working a fair for college students with work:FullSizeRender (1)

Art Museum trip with my friends (channeling Rocky here):

IMG_2481

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog, Etc., Running Tagged With: , , , Leave a Comment
September 27, 2014

#ActiveNationDay is Tomorrow!

Sponsored Post: I was given a product (a bracelet) in exchange for this post.

Active Nation Day a worldwide day of  movement created in 2012 by Lorna Jane to help women live an authentic and active life.

Tomorrow, September 28,  Lorna Jane will be hosting events all over the world, where everyone can learn and take part in a specially choreographed fitness routine (find them here). There’s no location by me, but I have a pretty active day already, with a 5K in the morning!

Lorna Jane also has an app available on iTunes and Google Play.

There’s also a contest:

To inspire every woman, everywhere to be active every day. The Next Step Starts With You! Show us how you do your #LJMOVE for your chance to win a $1000 Lorna Jane gift card!

How to get involved:

  • DO THE #LJMOVE ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, film your move or take a photo (see the video below)
  • UPLOAD your video or photo to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook
  • HASHTAG #LJMOVE #ACTIVENATIONDAY
  • INSPIRE OTHERS and tag a sporty sister to do the move too!

Sponsored Post: I was given a product (a bracelet) in exchange for this post.

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