One of the most important things you can do for your body before ballet class (or before any form of physical activity for that matter) is to warm up properly. Ballet demands a lot from our bodies - particularly from our muscles and joints - and if we don’t warm them up properly before we get into the more challenging and bigger range of movements, that’s when we can put ourselves at a higher risk of injury. So this week I’m sharing 3 of my favourite ways to warm up your body before class + a follow along warm up guide that you can complete with me!
- Get some good warm up wear
I absolutely love warm-up wear (seriously give me a cross-over anyday) and aside from its stylish design, it also serves a very functional purpose and that’s to help speed up muscle warmth. This is important because the warmer our muscles are, the more oxygen that becomes available to them which helps your muscles contract and relax a lot faster, so you can perform more strenuous moves with ease. This is done of course through a physical warm-up, but adding an extra layer (literally) can make the warm-up more effective. I love to wear a cross-over, knitted shorts and even leg warmers during my warm up to really prep my muscles properly. Our Slumber Parti Collection has so many amazing pieces that are specifically designed to be both warm and lightweight to support you through your warm-up.
- Utilise power equipment
One of the things I always have in my dance bag with me at all times is a powerband - they’re just so versatile and can be used for so many different things, especially a warm up. If you get to your ballet class a little bit early, it’s the perfect time to spend a few minutes stretching and warming up before class starts and one of the easiest ways to do that is with a powerband - which can be used on your feet, arms, legs and so much more! If you’re not sure where to start there are so many incredible exercises that use the powerband on our Claudia Dean App that are perfect to complete before class like Dead Ant, Open My Hips and Diamonds in Powerband. Download the app now to access hundreds of exercises.
- Drink plenty of water
I’m obsessed with water and I never go anywhere without my emotional support power bottle to make sure I’m getting at least 2L of water every day. Aside from the benefits it has for our overall health including our skin and digestion, water is also a really key component for movement as it keeps our joints lubricated. Did you know that the tissue in our joints is 80% water so staying hydrated keeps that tissue spongy and soft to absorb shock, which is super important for dancers in particular when performing allegro.
Remember that preparation is the key to success, and for dancers a proper warm-up is the best way to ensure your body is set up for success!
Claudia’s Follow Along Warm Up Guide:
Love CD xxx
