It’s never too late

Taking ballet classes as an adult may seem risky and/or intimidating. Unlike most types of fitness, dance is, after all, an art form. The moment you touch the barre, the music begins to play and you take a breath with your first plié, you become wonderfully vulnerable. You indulge in a journey, while benefitting from the physical exercise. And trust me it is physical.

The advantages of taking ballet range from physical benefits (such as strength, mobility, endurance, coordination and alignment) to mental and spiritual benefits (such as cognitive development, musicality and creativity). Unfortunately, many adults find it difficult to build up courage to attend their first class. While it might be easier on the body and mind for the young, many return to, and some even start, ballet later in their life and successfully progress with their own goals. This can be you. This can be you at any stage, at any part of your life.

Although adults do not usually learn ballet with the intention of becoming professionals, their training is still worth taking seriously.

Under the assumption that it is too late in life to start or restart their ballet training, some adults opt for other fitness options. One of those is barre fitness, a ballet-inspired workout using a barre. Traditionally, ballet classes are led with piano accompaniment, and exercises develop from barre, to the centre, and then travelling through the space. Barre classes do not incorporate travelling exercises, instead focusing on barre and floor exercises, sometimes introducing other equipment such as exercise balls and bands. Although music usually accompanies the workout, the goal is not developing participants’ musicality, but to fuel the repetition of isometric movements. Barre classes are an excellent form of fitness, but with the right teacher and mindset, adult ballet can be as approachable as barre fitness or any other exercise alternative, such as Pilates or a traditional training regimen.

If joining ballet as an adult still sounds intimidating, please take a moment to imagine: a studio of focused students, all showing up at the same place and time to move together through space in touch with music, letting go of life’s concerns and experiencing the dynamic energy of artistic expression.

Allow yourself have this experience. Allow your body to feel the physicality of movement. Allow your mind to be open to new possibilities, to new experiences.

#FINDWHATMOVESYOU