You love to dance. Okay, you were born to dance! But sometimes life gets in the way and niggly things like injuries and sickness get in the way. It happens to the best of us.
But there are certain steps you can take to minimise these challenges. Here’s five insider secrets to staying on top of your dance game.
1. Nutrient-Rich Foods
All vegetables, fruit, fish, meat eggs, nuts, grains and seeds are packed with nutrients. Eating these foods in their most natural state ie; not processed in a tin or jar helps your body so that it can perform in peak condition. For optimal health, ensure you are getting plenty of protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. so look up foods that provide these essential components and focus on eating these foods more frequently!
2. Get More Sleep
Studies show that adults who get 7-8 hours and children who get 9-11 hours are able to concentrate, learn and generally function much better than their counterparts who don’t get enough sleep. Between school, work, dance and social activities, setting a sleeping pattern can be tricky.
Set a goal for yourself to have a bed time and wake time. Your body will thank you for it. It helps if you detach from all digital distractions, leaving phones and laptops outside of the bedroom to avoid distractions.
3. Don’t Skip Breakfast
While you sleep your body is fasting but it is still working away and using up all it’s resources. It makes perfect sense to eat a meal and hydrate when you wake up, right? The great thing about breakfast is you get to refuel your body with energy and kickstart you into a good healthy sparkly mood. Breakfast sets you up for the day, it improves metabolism, balances blood and helps avoid hunger pangs and sugar cravings. Some of our favourite weekday breakfasts are muesli with chia seeds and yogurt, eggs on wholemeal toast, oats or even weetbix!
4. Stay Hydrated
Keeping adequately hydrated is especially important for dancers who are always active. Water comprises approximately 75% of muscle tissue. Dehydration leads to muscle fatigue and loss of coordination which can make it harder to dance. A great way to stay hydrated is to find a drink bottle you love and make sure it’s filled and with you everywhere you go. If you aren’t a fan of plain water then get a nifty and add some flavour with a wedge of lemon, orange, berries, kiwi, cucumber, ginger, the ideas are endless…!
5. Flex and Stretch
We love a good stretch at Dance Central, nothing comes between us, a mat, stretch band and a foam roller… (or just a floor!) Flexibility is essential for those who are serious about dance. Every dance class at Dance Central has a good stretch component to it and the stretches are easy enough to memorise and do at home. Stretching is not only great for flexibility, it releases tension in the body and is also a relaxant for the body and nervous system. Perfect after a hot shower before bed.
So there you have it. Incorporate these steps into your daily routine and your energy levels will skyrocket on the dancefloor.
Need some motivation? Then join Suzy every Saturday for her limbering class on Saturday mornings.
