background preloader

Dance Stretching

Facebook Twitter

Pilates Exercises for Strength and Flexibility - Level 2. This is an intermediate level Pilates mat routine.

Pilates Exercises for Strength and Flexibility - Level 2

It focuses on abdominal strength as well as stretching the back, sides, front body, and hamstrings. If you have not done much Pilates before, you may want to start with the Pilates Beginner Exercises or Quick Workout 1. Both are excellent routines that include less difficult exercises. This series does not include a warm up. However, any workout should begin with some moment of tuning in and establishing alignment. Conditioning Exercises For Ballet Dancers. When training as a ballet dancer, many hours are spent in the studio working on set exercises or choreography.

Conditioning Exercises For Ballet Dancers

While ballet training may offer a type of fitness regime, in the December 2005 issue of "Dance Magazine," Linda Hamilton, a former New York city ballet dancer, advises that dancers get out of the studio to try other types of conditioning or cross-training exercises to complement their dance training and to help prevent injuries. Ballet classes offers little in the way of cardiovascular endurance training, yet dancing can become difficult if you are lacking in this area. Doing 30 minutes of low-impact cardio training, two to three days per week, will vastly improve your lung capacity, as well as your overall cardiovascular health. Avoid running on hard surfaces since the impact can be taxing on the joints, resulting in an injury or general wear and tear. Swimming, walking or using a stationary bike are all low-impact options. Another core-strengthening exercise is the quadruped. Stretching Exercises. Stretching and Flexibility - Working Towards Splits.

Working Towards Splits Go to the previous, next chapter.

Stretching and Flexibility - Working Towards Splits

The following stretching routine is tailored specifically to the purpose of achieving the ability to perform both front splits and side splits. It consists of the following exercises: Lower Back Stretches Lying Buttock Stretch Groin & Inner-Thigh Stretch Seated Calf Stretch Seated Hamstring Stretch Seated Inner-Thigh Stretch Psoas Stretch Quadricep Stretch Lying `V' Stretch . Warning: This stretching routine contains exercises that, depending on your physical condition, may be hazardous to your health. See section Disclaimer. The details on how to perform each of the stretches are discussed in the following sections. As with all stretches, you should not stretch to the point of intense pain! Lower Back Stretches These stretches work mostly the lower back, but also make some demands on your abdominals, and your external obliques (sides). As for isometric stretches for the back, I don't recommend them.

Focus on Flexibility, from your About Cheerleading Guide. It doesn't take long to figure out flexibility plays a major role in Cheerleading.

Focus on Flexibility, from your About Cheerleading Guide

Just watch any Cheerleader perform a jump, do a high kick or slide down into the splits and the fact that flexibility is important to the sport becomes very obvious. So any time spent on flexibility will definitely improve your Cheerleading. Focus on your flexibility. What is Flexibility? Flexibility is the ability of a joint to move in a full range of motion. Why Become More Flexible? The benefits of improving your flexibility are many. Improve Flexibility - Better Stretching to Improve Flexibility. Question: How Can I Stretch More Effectively?

Improve Flexibility - Better Stretching to Improve Flexibility

I have been trying for quite some time to get my splits. It seems like I hardly ever become more flexibile, and I'm worried that I may never be able to get down to the floor. I stretch almost every day. Is there a way to make my stretching more effective? Answer: Flexibility is very important to all kinds of dance. Splits - Learn How to Do Splits. Many dancers have trouble learning how to do splits.

Splits - Learn How to Do Splits

Flexibility is important for dancing, as many dance steps are nearly impossible to perform without being extremely limber. The ability to sit in split positions will greatly improve lower body flexibility and increase maximum extension. In dance, a front split is named according to the leg that is extended to the front. (If the right leg is extended forward, the split is referred to as a right split). Doing splits is easier for some people than others, so don't be discouraged if it takes you a little longer to get them. If you would like to get your front or straddle splits, or improve on the ones you already have, try to make it a point to stretch every day. Dance Warm Up - Warm Up for Dance.