Many people take ballet lessons as kids and eventually move away from it, but the thing is, you can take ballet lessons later on as well, as adults. Taking ballet classes can have all sorts of benefits that you may never have even thought of, such as gaining fitness and other health benefits. You can attain a more graceful gait and it can improve the way you carry yourself.
Older folk may not be too keen to join a gym, but a ballet class may hold more appeal. However, ballet, even at its most basic can be quite challenging with all its movement combinations, but like many things, it will take time and practice to get better at it. Here are some of the fitness and health benefits of taking ballet classes.
1. Improved Posture & Flexibility
A poor posture can cause problems over time, such as musculoskeletal problems and even of the nervous system. Good ballet training can help to teach a student to stand straight and improve posture and with regular classes, flexibility can also improve, which is important later on in life.
2. Build Strength
Ballet exercises can help you to build strength. Large muscle groups such as those in your back, glutes and legs right down to the smaller muscles in your feet can gain strength. You may have seen some of the movements performed by ballet dancers and these movements involve the hip socket and leg extensions while maintaining proper balance. You need to be trained on the proper methods and slowly, with constant repetition, not only will you get it, but many of these body parts such as the hip, lower legs, ankles and feet will gain strength and flexibility.
3. Balance & Coordination
Ballet training can help you with balance and coordination. This in turn can help you in other sporting activities such as skating. You will notice that your balance and coordination will gradually improve, as will your fitness levels. Balance and coordination are very important especially later on in life and can help to reduce the dangers of falls.
4. Muscle Tone & Core Strength
Ballet dancers are strong even though you may not see them as bulky and ripped. This is because the ballet training helps to gain long, lean muscles and also improve core strength which can play a significant role in keeping chronic back pain at bay.
5. Confidence & Self-Esteem
The nature of ballet and the training you receive in ballet classes will teach you self-discipline, grace and poise which in turn, can boost your confidence and self-esteem. Perhaps most people may not have these issues, but there are those that do. So, if you are a little more shy and reserved and lacking in confidence, it can improve these issues, especially in social situations. In class, you need to cooperate and mingle with others and you will most likely partner with someone if you have to practice some dance movements.
Taking ballet classes can be a challenging but rewarding endeavour. However, do not take it just for the sake of fitness. You may not get a great cardiovascular workout, so you may have to do this elsewhere. It may not be a great benefit to the arms and upper torso, so you need to work on these areas outside of ballet classes, but a combination of classes and regular workouts on your own to strengthen other areas will leave you in a much better position and you can look forward to the future with greater confidence.
