Starting dance mobility: Three yoga poses suggested by a ballet instructor
Ballet dancers are awe-inspiring, no doubt about it. They're top-notch athletes, blending strength and agility in a way that leaves me stunned.
Isabella McGuire Mayes, a former professional ballerina, is a fantastic example. At just 15, she snagged a spot at the renowned Vaganova Academy. Today, she runs online ballet classes catering to beginners, incorporating yoga and body conditioning insights gleaned from her professional dance career.
Now, I've always yearned for that balletic elegance and strength, but DAMN, it's elusive. Still, I couldn't resist diving into the potential benefits of ballet training for grown-ups.
"People spend way too much time hunched over their desks," McGuire Mayes pointed out. "And when we mention ballet, folks usually associate it with improved posture."
Bingo. That's precisely what happens. By training with ballet, you gain better awareness of your back, core, and seldom-used muscles.
Curious to learn more, I asked McGuire Mayes to highlight her favorite beginner-friendly stretches to boost mobility. Here's her selection:
1. Cat-Cow Stretch
"A cat-cow stretch is fantastic for the spine," McGuire Mayes says. "We curve the back and then arch it."
2. Butterfly Stretch
"The butterfly stretch is great for those glutes. Sit with the soles of your feet together and open 'em wide."
3. Hamstring Fold
"Just fold over your legs, reach for your toes to get that sweet hamstring stretch."
McGuire Mayes was the first Brit to join the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. She graduated at the top of her class and was hailed among the school's top three ballerinas. She later danced with St. Petersburg's Mikhailovsky Ballet for a few years. Today, she resides in London, UK, teaching ballet, from beginners to pros, at Ballet with Isabella.
- Isabella McGuire Mayes, a former professional ballerina, has adopted a lifestyle that integrates her dance background with wellness, offering yoga-infused ballet classes for beginners and teaching the importance of flexibility, both physical and mental, in her home-and-garden.
- The science of fitness-and-exercise suggests that ballet training for adults can promote improved posture, which is often compromised due to our sedentary lifestyle.
- McGuire Mayes, having recognized the need for stretches that boost mobility, has picked three beginner-friendly ones: the Cat-Cow Stretch, Butterfly Stretch, and Hamstring Fold, all of which focus on various muscle groups for overall health-and-wellness.
- Reminiscing her time at the Vaganova Academy, McGuire Mayes exemplified flexibility in both her dance career and her transition to teaching yoga, further validating the notion that an adaptable mindset is crucial in maintaining a balanced and well-rounded lifestyle.
