This a topic that I LOVE talking about...
ballet and football
What a better time to bring up football than at the start of the football season!
I love telling people how good ballet is for the body, especially for athletes. Some people don't seem to realize the amount of strength it takes to do ballet and how much more strength it takes to make it look easy and effortless. I think this is the misconception: ballet looks easy.
Steve McLendon, a 320 pound lineman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, can also tell you that ballet is NOT easy. In fact, he tells the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that "it's harder than anything else I do." (Click here to read the rest of the article.)
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| McLendon practicing his pliés in the studio. |
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| McLendon on the field. |
Ballet can do wonders for the body in terms of strengthening and flexibility. Injuries can actually be prevented because of exercises that are specifically targeted for the knees and ankles, which have a tendency to be weak spots for some athletes. Proper stretching of the muscles also takes the stress off of sensitive joints and muscles that tend to cramp and ache during an intense workout.
Livestrong.com also mentions that ballet is actually a full body workout! It not only works your legs, but it can strengthen your core muscles too. Ballet makes you more adaptable to any sport because of all the little workouts you are getting.
For all those hardcore athletes out there:
Consider adding a little ballet to your routine! If a lineman can strap on his ballet shoes with pride, you can too! There's no shame in ballet! It's good for you!
tessc@balletpetite.com
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