The general perception is that ballet classes are for the youth. However, there has recently been an increasing interest in ballet classes for adults. This is because of the many benefits of ballet.
Ballet is not just enjoyable. It improves physical, mental and emotional health. It also encourages discipline and mindfulness.
Here are some of its benefits:
1. Strengthened mind
Ballet stimulates the mind. Dancers need to be able to move each limb with precision and purpose, and many of the moves require concentration and coordination.
You have to think of every step: not just how you execute the strength, but also how you express yourself through it. These mindful moves strengthen the functioning of the brain, particularly parts of the brain used for spatial processing and memory.
2. Increased flexibility
Stretching goes hand in hand with all forms of dancing. In addition to the formal section of stretching before class, movements which require the muscles to stretch are also incorporated into dance sequences. The result is increased flexibility.
3. Improved confidence
Expressing emotions and mastering physical moves through dance improves confidence! Participants learn to hold their heads up high, as though wearing crowns, and perceived body limitations are shattered as different moves are mastered.
At the same time, no-one carries themselves better than a ballerina. There is something about the grace of the moves and the background of uplifting classical music which stays with the dancer long after dance class has ended.
4. Increased Strength
Whoever said ballerinas are fragile has never been to a ballet class. Ballet requires precision exercises, leaving no muscle out of the picture. Every move requires attention to body alignment and muscle control.
Regular practice of ballet can give you the strength of someone who trains with small weights. In many instances, the body must lift its own weight to execute certain moves. Ankle and calf strength are also improved through barre and centre exercises.
5. Improved posture
Since ballet requires strong core muscles, the posture is strengthened. Back and forward bends also create supple spines.
Ballet class participants are constantly reminded to stand tall and upright, and the result is a mindfulness of how one is carrying oneself, not just in dance class, but also in everyday life.
6. Emotional wellness
Dancing works wonders in relieving stress and helping one to connect with one’s emotions. Even when the moves are simple, self-expression through the body in response to music has an incredibly healing effect!
The endorphins released during the dancing also create a sense of wellness.
7. Endurance
Through dancing, you can become fit without even knowing it. This is because you are often having so much fun to realise you are exercising. As you continue to do dance exercises, you will develop endurance over time.
The ballet exercises can also be used to complement other forms of exercise, such as running.
So before hanging up your dance shoes, consider joining an adult ballet class. Adults can leave self-consciousness at the door when they enter the class and dance in loose-fitting, comfortable clothes.
It is advisable to find an adult ballet class run by a professional, who is sensitive to individual limitations and capabilities. New dancers who have not done ballet before will have to find a class that is appropriate for beginners, as ballet is more than just about fitness. It is also a new form of expression and way of moving.
If you are new to ballet, joining an adult ballet class might feel like you are learning a new language. However, the basic steps will soon become familiar and you will learn a new skill-set as you become fitter.
The benefits are huge and will positively affect other areas of your life. Learning ballet might just be the fitness turnaround strategy you are looking for!