Ballet dancers are graceful, their movements effortless. Their muscles perform impressive maneuvers while looking sleek, lean and almost fragile. Their cardiovascular stamina is akin to marathoners, and, dare I say it, they barely even sweat! Now yes, of course, some of their physical attributes are the result of genetics. We can't all have mile long legs, narrow hips and body parts that seem to defy gravity. But any ballerina will tell you that there is one aspect of their training that is integral to their strength and stamina - the barre.
This staple of any dance school and every budding ballerina is not a crutch. It's not used to lean on, but rather to adjust - to give you a visual and physical reference of where your body should be in space. At the barre, you can work every muscle in your body, including your heart. Dancers take the training and fundamentals they learn at the barre onto the stage.
We don't have a stage. Or do we? We perform every day to a 3ft tall, demanding audience. We bend, lift, reach, hold and stretch from sunrise to sunset and often long after. The demands of our family, jobs and even exercise regimen take their toll on our bodies. If we run exclusively our back and arms are neglected. Bikers get hunched upper backs and shortened abdominal muscles. Cross-fit enthusiasts can power through dead lifts and seem the most well-rounded, but can often lack the control of smaller muscles. Even yoga practice, which is often seen as a compliment to any exercise program, can lack cardiovascular benefits and have certain aspects that may be intimidating to some.
But at the barre you can receive balance. No heavy weights, hours of practice, complicated exercise names, or expensive equipment. We will incorporate exercises from many different genres using the barre as our home base and also small weighted balls, hand weights and resistance bands. Class is an intensive 57 minutes (random time I know, but it works); you'll feel it for days.
I'm excited to bring this class to you! Two chances to experience
the program firsthand.
Information session and mini-demo class
Monday, December
17th, 8:00pm
The Little Gym of
Virginia Beach at Landstown Commons
Bring a mat if you
have one; RSVP by December 14th on the Facebook event so that I can be sure to
bring enough equipment.
Full Demonstration Class (Yay, my barres will be in!)
Monday, January 7th,
8:00pm
The Little Gym of
Virginia Beach at Landstown Commons
Class is limited to 8
participants; be sure to RSVP on the Facebook event to reserve your space.
See you at the barre!
