Have you always dreamed of doing ballet? Here are 2 new more accessible sports to test, which are inspired by it.
Classical dance has always fascinated you but this sport which requires flexibility and rigor seems inaccessible to you? It is true that it is not an easy discipline to practice overnight. However, it reveals many benefits on the body and the mind which it would be a shame to deprive yourself of for fear of getting started. It’s good, to new ballet-inspired fitness classes offer us this year a new approach to this sport that flirts with dance.
“Accessible to everyone regardless of age, flexibility, level of dance or physical condition” Hélène Renard (classical dancer) assures us, the sculpted bar and ballet sculpture are new ways to get into this elite sport. You don’t even need to know any dance skills to practice them, although it can help you get comfortable at first. Only people with foot problems will not have the pleasure of trying this new kind of fitness because, as you can imagine, during these sports lessons, they are very busy. As the creator of these new concepts explains, she created them precisely to “to allow everyone to enjoy the benefits of classical dance without the technical and difficult side of the discipline”. We reveal to you without further delay all the good reasons to test them.
What is the barre sculpt?
The sculpt bar is a muscle strengthening class designed to sculpt the body and work the muscles in depth. It is practiced both at the barre and on the floor. It is particularly recommended for people who have never danced before and for those who want to tone and lengthen their silhouette.
The benefits of the sculpt bar
During the session, no muscle is left out, “we even feel unsuspected areas of the body” says the teacher. Over the course of the lessons, you will notice that your legs and your waist are refined, that your buttocks are more defined and that your arms are toned. As for the sheathing part of the session which is practiced on the ground, it allows you to strengthen the deep muscles of the abdominals to obtain a flat stomach. Another advantage: it is a sport that poses no risk to the joints.
The downside
The goal of this course being to obtain physical results, one can feel pain when the muscles heat up. It’s completely normal and without any risk for the body, but it can be a little unpleasant.
How often to practice? The expert recommends doing a course 2 to 3 times a week depending on your needs, the most important thing being to practice regularly to benefit from the benefits of these sports.
Price of a session: from €12 to €25 per unit depending on the schools and clubs.
What is the ballet sculpt?
The ballet sculpt is a very complete course that allows you to work on cardio, muscle strengthening, balance, coordination and flexibility. “We dance to lively and dynamic music which allows you to let go and have fun while working intensely” explains Hélène Renard to sum up.
The Benefits of Ballet Sculpt
The benefits of this fitness class are therefore both physical and psychological, and absolutely all the muscles of the body are solicited, which allows you to sculpt the silhouette in a harmonious way. The cardio part of the course burns calories and therefore allows you to lose fat if you want to lose weight.
The downside
If you’ve never done ballet before, you may have a little trouble following the first class. “But it comes very quickly, after 3 classes in general the participants feel much more comfortable and notice a real progression” reassures the teacher.
How often to practice? It all depends on your goal and your sports practice on the side, but to lose weight, the teacher recommends 2 to 3 classes per week.
Price of a session: from €12 to €25 per unit depending on the schools and clubs.
What equipment to practice?
Good news, you won’t have no need to invest in an outfit complete special ballet dance. For the ballet sculpt, no materials are required. “You can practice barefoot, in socks or with ballet slippers” says Hélène Renard. For the barre sculpt, we use a dance bar and small equipment such as dumbbells and balls during indoor classes, but they are equipped.
Sports that can also be practiced at home
Your shyness will not be an obstacle to taking up ballet sculpt and barre sculpt because it is possible to participate in online lessons from home, via the Zoom application for example. For online barre sculpt classes, all you need to do is “replace the barbell with a chair and the dumbbells with water bottles” so you don’t have to buy hardware.
Need an address to book a distance learning course? Go to the Ballet Sculpt app or the website www.balletsculpt.fr.
Good plan: tips for paying less for your sports lessons
The prices of the sessions depend on each school or club, it is not always possible to find the cheapest course near you. But most often, the rooms offer monthly or annual subscriptions which sometimes allow you to save a little.
In addition, some establishments offer to try the disciplines for free. Find out about schools near you to test lessons for free.
Ballet sculpt, barre sculpt: how to choose?
“The ballet sculpt brings dance with the letting go and the well-being that goes with it. The sculpt bar allows you to work the muscle in depth to achieve physical results” decides the creator of the concepts. It’s up to you to see what your priority is. And if you still can’t choose between the two practices, know that the ballet sculpt and the barre sculpt are also two sports that can be complementary. “The 2 is the winning combo for body and mind” says the dance teacher.
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