Fitness Friday: Why It Doesn’t Matter That I Suck At Ballet

Hello! It’s time for another Fitness Friday, where I talk about all things fitness. I wanted to start with a fun ballet-inspired workout, then talk a little about my recent return to ballet:

I think this workout is really fun. It uses some simple ballet moves to inspire a workout which works on your thighs, Over time, it’s a good way to increase flexibility and toning and will bring something a little different to your daily workout. I know that I’m prone to forgetting to stretch after workouts, which I always regret the following day (damn you DOMS!) This is a good way to include some ballet in your routine in place of ballet lessons.

I used to do ballet when I was very small, probably like many girls, but it unfortunately fell by the wayside as I couldn’t balance this with gymnastics, swimming, music lessons and school (yes, I was one of those children!) I always enjoyed it and a few months ago, after drunkenly reminiscing about all my childhood hobbies and skills, I emailed my local ballet school and signed up to adult lessons.

Sometimes, drunken decisions actually pay off! I really enjoy ballet and it’s a great way to work on my flexibility and balance. However, in reality I have no idea how good or bad I am – the hall in which I learn has no mirrors so I can’t see myself. In some ways this is irritating because I have no idea if I’m doing anything right or not. Yet, in another way, it is totally liberating. I don’t worry about whether I am ‘any good’ or not so I simply do my best and can’t see what this looks like.

Perhaps ballet lessons needn’t be so deep! Yet it does show that sport is about more than simply the physical; getting out of your comfort zone and not worrying about whether you are ‘good enough’ is certainly an attitude I am trying to work on this year. I’m sure most of you will have seen the ‘This Girl Can’ adverts from Sport England which reflect the importance to give exercise a go, regardless of what you might look like. Getting involved in sport can be liberating, exciting and make a huge difference to confidence – you just need to discover what kind of exercise you enjoy.

What will you be trying this year to get out of your fitness comfort zone? Are there any exercises which you love but are frankly terrible at?