This article was published in the June 2023 issue of Vogue Spain.
The union of the benefits of ballet – like classical dance – together with the disciplines of fitness have led to the creation of a new way of training that has become the obsession of several celebrities who have praised all the good that these classes have done for their body and their physical and mental well-being. For example, a button: from those who have always remembered with affection and a certain nostalgia their time as a dancer in childhood and adolescence -Lady Di among them-, to those who discovered dance after 50 swearing eternal devotion to it -the editor Carine Roitfeld , for example, has spoken on several occasions about ‘the effect lifting’ that he has had in his adult body. A fervor that is not only the responsibility of celluloid or the fashion industry, since there are more and more centers and platforms on-line of fitness –also called Netflix of well-being– that incorporate training methods inspired by ballet into their offer or that directly dedicate themselves full time to the indoctrination of their own disciplines that drink from it.
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Barre and other fashion disciplines
It is the case of the dancer Nathalie Wrongcreator of NRG at homea global platform dedicated to sweep. “People are really drawn to ballet. It is magical, also because it provides a wonderful connection between mind and body. But it may be unattainable for most. One of the streams fitness more similar to dance is the ballet barre, also know as sweep. And that is probably why it has become a trend so quickly”, he explains, referring to a technique that, after causing a furor in other countries such as the United States, has been installed for some time (with great success) in our country. The expert defines it as “a clever mix of classical ballet and pilates moves, fused together to create the perfect exercise in fitness”.
That the popularity of this type of training has grown so much in recent years has several logical explanations. “The benefits of this discipline are infinite for both the body and the mind. You can start at 40, 50, 60 or 70 years old as it is much more accessible than ballet in that sense. I do not want to say with this that you cannot start practicing classical dance at the age of 60, but easier to achieve health goals and fitness with the sweep”, points out the expert. But, in addition to its adaptability for all audiences -everything adds up-, the results obtained with these classes based mainly on isometric exercises and low-impact movements are evident in a relatively short time: it tones and lengthens the muscles, favors flexibility, increases muscle mass, decreases body fat and strengthens the entire body. Without sweating excessively and without damaging the pelvic floor since, although the cardiovascular element is also present, the focus is on the strengthening and body alignment.
The dancer and gymnast sidonie geisweiller is the creator of barefitwhich was the first study of sweep in Barcelona, which has seen how the demand for his classes has increased, a clear indication of the popularity of this technique. For her, another of the great advantages of this method is the posture work What is done in each session? Great relief to combat back and neck problems that have become commonplace due to a sedentary lifestyle and the use (and abuse) of new technologies.
work posture
“The benefits that the sweep at the postural level it is one of the things that our clients comment the most. Everything goes through the spine and when you have a back problem, the nervous system ends up being affected in some way, which affects emotional self-regulation, hormonal balance, skin, digestion… The bad postures they affect everything and working on them and correcting them makes us have a lubricated, more mobile spine, in short, healthier”, he explains. Geisweiller emphasizes the need to transmit a holistic philosophy about exercise: “We should change the concept of sport as something that kills. It’s health and it doesn’t have to mean lifting more weight or having more soreness. In sweep analytical and effective exercises are done with which results are achieved without breaking a sweat”.
A conscious training
Another method that works with lclassical ballet technique but which is quite different from sweep is Ballet fitdevised by the dancer Gloria Morales and with high levels of popularity among models and celebrities Spanish. “We are not a mixture of ballet, yoga and pilates, unlike other disciplines. We do not use material, no weights, no rubber bands, no balls. We work with the strength and resistance of our own body”, explains Morales. “From ballet we have chosen a series of basic exercises, the least harmful, and we have fused them with elements of fitness. Ballet is not a sport, it is an art. Practicing it entails the work of many years of a career, particularly as a professional. It is an exquisite art and only suitable for the dancer or the dancer. At Ballet Fit we have adapted it for all audiences ”, she adds. The objective? Physical and mental care. “Ballet on a personal level has given me absolutely everything. And that is the reason why I created a method based on discipline that ensured 100% conscious and elegant training. Along with the fundamentals of fitnesswe got the formula that everyone can benefit from. All those who like to take care of themselves and find an effective and long-lasting physical and mental improvement”, he concludes.
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