Ballet Conditioning (need suggestions)

hiddensecant
hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
So P90X is almost over and I discovered a new challenge: ballet conditioning.

I tried out Element: Ballet Conditioning because it looked more mild than any of the others I was previewing and even though I was modifying, it beat me senseless :laugh:. And I love it! It's a completely different kind of challenge and it's also something that will keep me pushing hard while I take a break from Tony Horton.

But there are some things that I'm reading about that aren't really covered in the videos and I want to be sure I'm getting everything I can out of it. Like I just read that turnouts should come from the hips and not the knees.

So any other advice you have and even other video recommendations are welcome. It would be nice to have a little more barre work and stretching so I can mix things up over the weeks.

Also, what micronutrients are you using?

Oh, this is my current library so far:

Element: Ballet Conditioning
The Bar Method (both of them)
NYC Ballet Workout 1&2
Ballet Boot Camp

And before someone lectures me on cardio, I'm combining it with Turbo Jam.

Replies

  • kdblev
    kdblev Posts: 18
    Not sure what you do and don't already know, but here are some quick things I can think of:

    - turnouts should always come from the hip, that is correct. if you can't get the feet straight out it's no big deal.

    - always make sure your pelvis is tucked in, but neutrally (using abs not butt muscles)

    - shoulders back and down always

    - try really really hard not to let the hip drift up during any kind of leg extension. the idea is for the leg to move, not the hip.

    - make sure your heels hit the floor on jump landings and stretch the achilles well, this is where a lot of injuries happen.

    - ballet conditioning is very much about your core. you need it for everything and it is where you will find most of your strength and balance.

    - another injury note...listen to your knees. if your muscles do not have the strength to smoothly pull you through a plie or such you can quickly hurt your knee. be very careful not to just fall into it and struggle out of it.

    Hope some of that helps and hope it isn't overkill! God luck with the new program. Ballet can do wonders for your body!
  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    Thank you! It's all new to me so I can use all the help I can get. And I can't wait to see what it does for my body!

    And no it's not overkill. If you think of anything else, please let me know.
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    NYC Ballet Workout 1 is fabulous. But if you want to get an idea of what the basics are, best would be to get something like "Ballet for Dummies" or some such thing. You want a basic book, in other words.

    You can also look a lot of this up on the internet.

    (BTW, I've been dancing ballet for over 30 years....and am still at it, albeit with a few creaky joints! *grin*).
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