• About Me
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosure Policy

Shann Eva's Blog

A peek into my messy life with 3 boys

  • Home
    • My Delivery Story
    • Twin Pregnancy
  • Work with Me!
  • Money-Saving Links
  • Blog
    • Shann’s Favorites
    • Shopping
    • Birthdays
    • Health
    • Micro Preemie Mondays
  • Submit Your Story
    • Share an Update
  • Twin pregnancy
You are here: Home / Exercise / Adult Ballet: What to Expect in Class

Adult Ballet: What to Expect in Class

June 12, 2015 By Shann 33 Comments

Adult Ballet Class

For one hour on Thursday nights, I get to just be me.  No making decisions, no asking me for juice, no pulling on my shirt.  Not “Mom.” Not “Honey.” Just beautiful music and a barre. Adult Ballet Class.

Ballet has always been a great love of mine.

The structure of the steps.  The discipline of your body alignment.  The beautiful lines your body creates in each pose.

I’ve been taking Ballet since I was about 10 years old, but took a couple of years off when I got married and had kids.  As I started to get to a place where I was eating healthy again, I wanted to also tone my body up.  An adult Ballet class seemed like the perfect solution.

bwballet2

Ballet as an Adult

Since it had been at least 6 years since I’d been in a dance studio, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  Did I have to wear a leotard and tights?  Was I going to be completely out-of-place since I was so out of shape?  Would I remember all the steps?

I really didn’t need to worry. An adult Ballet class is definitely different from a class your daughter or son may take.  There’s a more relaxed feel, since none of us are going to grow up to be ballerinas. There’s also more of an emphasis on getting a good workout.  We’re not preparing for a show (although some studios do let their adult students perform,) so there’s nothing to memorize.  We’re all there for a common goal of feeling better about our bodies, while enjoying the beauty of the movement.

bwballet5

Another great thing about an Adult Ballet class is that there isn’t any experience required.  There are adults of every level, and you can work as hard as you want to.  That’s the beauty of Ballet. There’s always something to work on, no matter how basic the step.

So, as part of my Fitness Friday series, I really want to let you know what you can expect from a Ballet class workout.

What to Expect from an Adult Ballet Class

What you can expect from your first Adult Ballet Class. An amazing workout that gives you long, lean muscles, and is perfect for anyone to try.

1. Expect to sweat.

Ballet is hard.  It’s the backbone of every other form of dance, so it gives you a great foundation for all kinds of movement. Your body will be in positions that it’s not used to, and you’ll use muscles you didn’t even know you had.

2. Ballet is all about Toning and Strength

You are using your own body as resistance, so you will be building long, lean muscles. No worries about bulky ones.  You’ve seen Ballet dancers’ bodies, right? While there are jumps and spins, there are also breaks between each exercise, so it’s not really a cardio workout.

3. The Barre is your Friend

You will start the class, and actually do most of it, holding onto a Ballet Barre.  Be careful not to grip it too tightly.  It’s just there for extra support.  It is not there to hold you up.

4. Remember to Breathe

Ballet involves a lot of core work, which means you are focused on your inner stomach muscles.  Just because you are pulling up and in, does not mean you should stop breathing.  Be conscious of your breath and relax.  While these positions and movements may be new to you, you will get used to them.  You don’t want to tense up in each position or movement or you’ll really be sore.

5. Let your inner Ballerina out

While you’re getting a great workout, remember to have fun.  I love how graceful ballet makes me feel, and I often forget I’m in a classroom when I’m there.  I usually picture myself up on a stage somewhere.  In a Tutu, of course.

If you’re too afraid to try a class in a studio, there are plenty of Ballet workout DVD’s available too.  I have the best partner at home.

bwballet

I hope you’ll consider taking a Ballet class at least once in your life.  Not only is it good for your body, but it’s great for your mind too.  You get to think about steps, positions, and your body’s alignment…and NOTHING else.  It’s a great escape from your everyday life.

bwballet3

In addition to my Ballet class, I’ve been walking A LOT while pushing the twins in their stroller, plus doing some fitness DVD’s.  I will be sharing my favorite Yoga DVD with you next Friday, so I hope you’ll come and join me.

 

 

 

Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory Vote For Me @ The Top Mommy Blogs Directory

Filed Under: Exercise Tagged With: alignment, ballerina, ballet, barre, exercise, fitness, Friday, muscles, strength, toning

Comments

  1. Alana says

    June 12, 2015 at 9:14 am

    This was a great post. I actually wondered if there were adult ballet classes. I think I might look into this. It looks like wonderful exercise.

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:40 pm

      Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll try it!

      Reply
  2. Lisa Nolan says

    June 12, 2015 at 9:18 am

    I LOVE this idea! I took ballet lessons when I was a kid, listened to all the great classical ballet music, and saw many ballets with my mom in San Francisco where I grew up!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
  3. Dana says

    June 12, 2015 at 9:23 am

    I love that you set aside that time to do something for YOU!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. shayla says

    June 12, 2015 at 9:51 am

    Great post. I never really thought of ballet as exercise but now I totally do. I bet it does take a lot of strength to pose like that!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Yes! Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Tianna says

    June 12, 2015 at 10:22 am

    sounds like fun! I always want to take ballet but they don’t offer too many adult classes near me. I mainly do lessons via YT – great post!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Thanks Tianna!

      Reply
  6. Tarynn Playle says

    June 12, 2015 at 10:34 am

    Sounds so amazing! I need to find a class in my area, I would love it! Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Great! Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  7. Jenny says

    June 12, 2015 at 11:44 am

    Well thanks for this post! I would not have thought of adult ballet. It looks like it would be a great adult class to help strengthen our core to avoid falls and injuries as we continue to age.

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Yes! Thank you!

      Reply
  8. Nicole says

    June 12, 2015 at 11:59 am

    Because I’ve never taken ballet, I’ve never considered it for a fitness class. I would so love to try it, just for fun and for my health. Thanks for sharing this and opening my eyes to the possibility!

    Reply
  9. Megan says

    June 12, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    So cool! I have never taken a dance class, maybe adult ballet is in my future.

    Reply
  10. Trish says

    June 12, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    This is a great post, Shann. I love the idea of adult ballet. I always wanted to take ballet when I was a kid, but I never got to. It’s not too late, right? LOL

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      It’s NEVER too late!

      Reply
  11. Sara Strand says

    June 12, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    I cannot do ballet at all, I would literally fall down all of the time. BUT! I love going to Zumba because it reminds me of the dance classes I took as a younger kid and I love it. Yes, I look absolutely ridiculous, but I feel like J.Lo and that’s all that counts. 🙂

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 2:36 pm

      Exactly! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Tricia says

    June 12, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Oh that’s a great idea for a workout. My friend was a dancer for the PA ballet, so I’ll have to get her to teach me some moves. I only took jazz when I was little, but I always loved dancing. I did recently take a barre class which is very dance-like. It was so much fun and such a great workout!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      Nice!

      Reply
  13. Angela Tolsma says

    June 12, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    Oh I have always wanted to take a class!! Thanks for the tips! I can’t wait to try it one day! (soon hopefully!)

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 5:24 pm

      Yay! I hope you will!

      Reply
  14. Dina says

    June 12, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    So true, I work out at home with Jessica Smith TV and she does Ballet Barre work outs. Ballet always look sooooooooooooo easy. Until you get into first position and then your like what..no this is really hard! So hard. I used to do belly dance when I was younger and ballet just takes the cake it is so tough but so great for your body! Thanks for this!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 5:25 pm

      That’s so cool that you used to Belly Dance!

      Reply
  15. Homestead Wishing says

    June 12, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    How sweet! I did ballet when I was 12. Great idea to do it as an adult. I bet this would be so much fun!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 8:10 pm

      It is! I love it!

      Reply
  16. Fox says

    June 12, 2015 at 9:30 pm

    This is awesome! I have never taken dance or done ballet, but it’s good to know that the option is open. (…Although clearly I’d need remedial/superbeginner courses.) I’m always looking for new ways to get fit and get my sweat on, so it’s nice to know that the high stakes land of ballet is more forgiving than I would have imagined. 😛

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 12, 2015 at 9:54 pm

      Yes, way more forgiving for us adults! 🙂

      Reply
  17. Natasha says

    June 14, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    I took ballet as a little girl and miss it! You still look great doing the “moves”!

    Reply
    • Shann says

      June 14, 2015 at 2:47 pm

      Thank you so much Natasha!

      Reply
  18. Britt says

    June 15, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    I have always wanted to try ballet, but I am not coordinated in any way! I think yoga is the closest I will ever get. It always looks so elegant and beautiful though.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Shann

Shann Hi! I'm a mom, writer, and dancer. I love sharing my parenting experiences, my healthy living tips, my money saving ideas, and our travel plans. My passion to help other women inspired this blog. I hope you'll stay a while and come back often.

Need Help Finding Something?

Follow Me

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Middle Mom: Changes and Challenges February 21, 2023
  • Writing as Therapy May 16, 2022
  • COVID: The (Not) Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Guilt August 20, 2021
  • Healthy Lifestyle: Making Baby Steps Back July 27, 2021
  • 2020 Year In Review: The Highlights December 31, 2020

Facebook

Facebook
MKE Moms Blog
Copyrighted.com Registered & Protected 
M6VU-YLWL-D4JY-XAO4

Copyright © 2023 · Blog Design by Quality Websites On A Budget

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT