Hit the barre with this ballet workout – and tone muscles you never knew you had!

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Posted: 16 Jan 2015 08:59 AM PST Have you ever wondered how ballet dancers get their incredibly toned physiques? It's because of all the ballet moves they're practicing to perfection! We can all learn a thing or two about fitness from ballet dancers. Try my ballet-style barre workout and dance your way to fitness!Trends in fitness come and go, but effective styles live forever. Some of the fitness trends that tend to be successful spin off of traditional dance or athletic moves that have been around for years. Barre workouts (using the bar that you'd normally see in a dance studio) are here to stay! This style of training is made up of traditional ballet moves, that have been modified to suit exercisers of all levels. A ballet bar is used as a prop to help you balance while doing these exercises that focus on isometric strength training (holding your body still while you contract a specific set of muscles) combined with high reps of small range of motion movements. Why try a ballet workout? I'm sure you want to ask this question: Is a barre workout effective? I have to answer YES. I believe this ballet-style of exercise combines a lot of elements that are important to look for in a balanced workout routine. Any exercise format that seamlessly combines gentle body-weight strength movements mixed with elements of flexibility and coordination is a good choice. Performing slow and purposeful muscular movements places a huge emphasis on gaining muscular control and core stability. These points make barre workouts great as standalone workouts, or something you choose to add to the end of your routine. Another great thing about a ballet-style workout is that you can perform some of these exercises anywhere! Sometimes official classes can be too expensive for your budget, or studio schedules may not work for you. If that's the case, don't let that stop you because there are so many great resources to help you learn what you need to know, so keep moving and gain some body confidence, whilst improving your health. Here are a couple of moves to get you started that you can do using a ballet barre, your kitchen counter, a chair or park bench. Barre workout moves Plié on relevé (toes) Targets: thighs, abs, ankles, and feet How to do it: ·      Stand with your feet in first position (heels together, toes turned out about 45 degrees), legs straight, and hands gently resting on the barre. ·      With your spine tall and abs tight, rise up onto the balls of your feet. Plié by bending your knees out over your toes. Only lower about half-way down. ·      Straighten your legs, squeezing your inner thighs together as you extend, and then lower your heels. Plié with feet together Targets: glutes, thighs, abs, ankles, and feet ·      Stand with your feet parallel and together, hands on the back of your barre or balancing tool. ·      Press up onto the balls of your feet and bend your knees into a deep plié by lowering your hips as far down as you can, squeezing your inner thighs together (knees should stay touching). ·      Lift up halfway (knees should stay bent), and then return to deep plié position. Remember that your body adapts to change well; so don't be afraid to jump out of your usual routine. Try a new class and you may be surprised at how much you may enjoy a barre workout. I recently tried a new class in New York and I was very impressed with how easy it was to follow along and how great I felt afterwards. I'll admit that I often gravitate toward high intensity, high impact workouts, so this was a change of pace for me. Is a ballet workout right for you? Using a ballet barre for exercise is a great way for new exercisers to gain confidence because it can give a little extra support. It's a good idea to keep your overall body goals in mind, as this will help you to decide which style of exercise routine is best for you. Not all exercise styles are created equally. Some routines burn more calories than others, some feel better than others, some will help you to build muscle, and others help you to gain increased flexibility and range of motion. Setting a goal is helpful. As I evolve on my own fitness journey, I focus on occasionally slowing down and increasing my personal expertise by becoming familiar with fitness trends like barre workouts. If you have any specific body concerns or old injuries, check in with the instructor before the class in case you need to modify any exercises. . Many instructors welcome questions before a class gets started; the last thing they want is for you to have a poor fitness experience or risk injury. Start with the basics One of the best approaches if you're looking to try something new is to pick a beginner class so that you can learn the basics. Getting a foundational understanding of any exercise style that interests you is wise, especially once you start to progress. A solid foundation will make progressing much easier. I love any fitness trend that promotes safe exercises based on traditional moves so choosing a barre workout was fun and this style helps people discover new muscles as they walk away glowing! Your personal safety should always be your number one priority with any activity, so be careful not to push yourself too hard. *** Is there a particular fitness trend you'd like to try? If yes, post it in the comments section so we can continue to improve together! Written by Samantha Clayton, AFAA, ISSA. Samantha is Director of Fitness Education at Herbalife Find out more at: http://www.DiscoverHerbalife.com

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