| I can already hear the groans just from reading | | | | so you can kick forward. Essentially all you will be |
| the title. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you to | | | | doing is kicking. Simply keep your legs turned out |
| put on a pink tutu and have you doing splits, | | | | and brush your foot up keeping it straight until |
| unless, of course, that's your thing. Ballet isn't all | | | | you cannot go any higher, hold and bring down |
| twinkle toes and limp hand gestures, and if you | | | | brushing the floor back to the starting position. |
| don't believe me, try some of these ballet | | | | Your upper body should not move; it should be a |
| exercises. | | | | slow smooth motion taking about 6-8 seconds. |
| Be sure to warm up properly first on an elliptical | | | | Repeat on your other side. |
| or other low-stress machine to get your blood | | | | - Releve- Take up the same position as in the plie, |
| flowing and body as limber as possible. | | | | facing the wall. Now just do a calf raise, but again |
| Ballet Exercises | | | | staying lifted in the abs and tucking the glutes. Lift |
| - Plie- You are probably thinking this is just some | | | | through the top of your head. This movement |
| crazy squat with no weight that's going to look | | | | from start to finish should take 5 seconds. |
| ridiculous. In a sense, you are correct. Stand | | | | These simple ballet exercises help develop muscle |
| facing a wall an arm's length away, feet together | | | | control because of the amount of time that each |
| and turned out. Only turn out as far as you | | | | movement takes. Just take a look at the |
| naturally can. Lift from your abs, and tuck your | | | | physique of some male ballet dancers to see how |
| glutes (don't squeeze). Finally, lift your shoulders up | | | | demanding ballet can be. |
| and back, keeping your neck in a straight line. Now | | | | It also helps your diaphragm learn proper |
| simply do a squat keeping your body in a straight | | | | breathing technique because you should always be |
| line. Squat all the way down so your heels come | | | | breathing out when doing an up motion and in on |
| off the floor, but you shouldn't be sitting. Then | | | | a down motion, there should be no pause. |
| come up pushing your heels down and lifting from | | | | Finally, doing these over a period of time will |
| the top of your head. One movement should take | | | | make your legs look defined and tighten your |
| about 8-1-0 seconds. | | | | glutes. Just make sure when you have finished |
| - Battement- Assume the same position as | | | | these to hop on the treadmill or take a walk |
| before except stand facing at an angle to the wall | | | | around the house to cool down. |