Tag: exercise

10 Reasons to Love Zumba

While I’ve trained in many dance styles (including ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and Indian dance), my new love is Zumba! This Latin and international dance-inspired fitness program incorporates easy-to-follow choreography to get your heart rate up with intense exercises to keep your muscles working. This weekend I was licensed to teach Zumba, which will […]

All Things Abs: Go from a No-Pack to a "Woah"-Pack

We all know that girl who basically lives in crop tops and sports bras to show off her insanely chiseled abs. But strong stomach muscles aren’t just amazing fashion accessories—they’re also the key to everything from powerful jumps to proper technique. Dance Spirit spoke with Jessica Sander, a personal trainer in NYC, about the most […]

Going Steady

As dancers, we talk a lot about “finding our centers”—but what does that actually mean? It refers to the invisible pole of support in your core that makes you feel like you could balance for days. Once you experience the freedom that sense of stability can provide, you’ll want to find a way to access […]

Total Body in 10

Between academic classes, dance classes, homework and trying to hang on to a social life, you’re busy every day. With a schedule like that, who has time to hit the gym? But just because you can’t log a sweat session on the treadmill or hit the free weights doesn’t mean you can’t tone up a […]

Four Rules of Injury Prevention + Jymmin

Pain, Pain, Go Away… Injuries: Many dancers accept them as a necessary evil, just “part of the job.” But what if they didn’t have to be? Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, MA, has developed an injury prevention program in collaboration with doctors from Boston Children’s Hospital. Dance Spirit chatted with the school’s […]

Score Hot Hamstrings

Whether you’re rocking pink tights or booty shorts, a pair of toned hamstrings can be your best accessory onstage. Strong hamstrings give you a long, lean look by evening out your thighs and keeping your quads from getting bulky. Even better? They power développés that reach toward the sky, not the horizon. “Once your leg […]

Turkey Day Troubles? + Chewing Gum + Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

(iStock) TURKEY DAY TROUBLES? A four-day weekend of feasting with family is supposed to be an all-around good thing. But if you’re a serious dancer, the stress of spending Thanksgiving away from your training regimen might leave you feeling less than thankful for the time off. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to make the […]

Breaking a Spirit-y Sweat

One of my favorite things to do in NYC is to check out new fitness classes. I get to edit the Body section of Dance Spirit (including Health, Nutrition, Mind and Fitness stories), so not only do I get to break a solid sweat, but it’s also technically considered research for my job! Two birds, […]