Effective List of Ballet Moves to do at Home
Ballet Fitness Moves
Ballet fitness moves rely on controlled movements. It is important to tighten the body and maintain good posture throughout the exercises to achieve the results that you desire. You may not need to leap in the air or twirl across the room anytime soon, but adopting some of the fundamental exercises that ballet students practice will give you more stamina, power, and flexibility.
Plies
The key to a ballet fitness workout is this classic ballet move. Plies will strengthen the legs and start to work on your core as you are warming up your muscles. It also has the ability to make you feel like a dancer while you are doing it, further encouraging your workout.
Stand with your heels together, toes pointed out in what ballet teachers call the first position. Keep your back straight, stomach pulled in and center your body over your hips. Bend slowly at the knees. Your arms can reach forward in a circular shape for balance, or you can rest your arm on the back of a chair. Maintain a slow, controlled pace and rise up on your toes from the plie move. Place your heels back on the floor and return to a deep plie move. Repeating this exercise will work the large muscles in your thighs, calves, buttocks, and abdominal region.
Lateral Leg Lifts
Lateral leg lifts, are a form of the ballet move referred to as battement. To perform this exercise, stand in first position with your heels touching and your toes pointed out slightly. Shift your weight to your right leg, while maintaining good posture. Keep your body centered between your hips at all times. Extend your left foot straight out in front of you. Keep the leg straight and maintain tight control over the movement, both up and down. Contract your abdominals throughout this ballet fitness move to do at home or in your office while on hold.
Continue this exercise using the opposite leg and then lift your leg out to the side, to the back and then to the front.
Oblique Passe Lifts
Passe lifts will work your oblique muscles giving you a toned abdominal region. Start this exercise in the same way as the plie and the leg lifts, in first position. Shift your weight to your right leg and then bend your left knee to the side. Rest your left toes on the right shin. Bring your arms above your head in a rounded position. Your fingertips should be barely touching. Bend your upper body to the left while lifting your bent left leg to attempt to meet it. Switch sides and repeat with the right side.
This exercise takes focus and control. Engage your muscles and maintain control throughout the movement to avoid injury. Repeat as many times as you can without losing form.
Daily Practice
Ballet fitness moves easily translate into day to day life. Engage your muscles while standing, walking or sitting. Maintain excellent posture with your shoulders back and chin up. Focusing on your posture and the way you move throughout the day will help to train your body when not actively working out.