mimi66 Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 I am off my regular classes at the moment - not an injury, just suffering from a medical condition which affects my balance. I do not feel comfortable doing turns, jumps and grand allegro in general, I am happy going to beginners class to work on my basic techinique for a few weeks before I resume my normal classes. In addition, I would also like to do some ballet specific exercise, preferably floor bound. I have been looking at internet to find some that looks safe and effective. Then it came to my attention that a lot of people in this forum suffer from injuries from time to time, and I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where adult recreational dancers can help each other or get a helpful advice from experts to re-build their strength and may be even to imporve their basic technique (turnout etc) post-injury. I also think we could use this thread to whinge a bit, too... Our non-dancing family and friends are loving and supportive, but sometimes they don't quite "get it"... they wonder what is the big deal, it is not as if we are professionals....which of course isn't the point(e). I think one would find more sympathetic ears here... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 I have decided that I would like to use my "floor bound time" to work on my lower back flexibility (among other things)... I have seen a couple of nice exercises in another thread, which I shall try out stating tomorrow. Today I did a bit of ballet floor barre exercise - luckily one of my ex-professional ballet dancer friend offered me a one-to-one (I must have been whinging very loudly!) After a 45 min session I felt so much better. My friend rent me a book on floor barre so I can do some of them on my own. The book is called "Maria Fay's floor Barre". It is already a classic book so many of the people in this Forum probably already know about it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 The Royal opera house shop also sells a floor barre DVD which uses pupils from the John Cranko School. I believe there are 3 different levels to this but you can order online. I would say start out with the most basic as the middle level is quite tough or I am particularly unfit which is also the case???? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancer Sugar Plum Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 I've not heard of Maria Fay's Floor Barre, but I'll find out more about it now. I know what you mean about non-dancing people around you not 'getting it'. In fact, I have a work-social coming up on the same night as one of my classes, which I don't want to miss. But I know if I don't go along to the work-social, my colleagues will say, 'But it's just ballet, surely you can miss one class?!' They've said it before and I'm sure they'll say it again But I have a funny story to share as well. Recently while sewing ribbons onto pointe shoes on an early morning train (I was in a rush to get them ready for class that evening) the woman who sat beside me on the packed train asked me if I was a professional dancer from one of the UK companies! At first I thought she was joking but she was actually serious and all because I had pointe shoes in my hands! It was lovely though, we had a nice chat about ballet and I think it was the first time she got to see real pointe shoes up close. She even gave me some tips with sewing (I'm really slow at sewing). So it's not all bad with non-dancing people not understanding ballet! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 (edited) Well I've barely danced since September I have Achilles tendinopathy (tendonitis) which comes and goes but September was the worst it's ever been and I could barely walk for days! So I got straight to the Physio and I've followed his instructions very carefully (gentle calf and soleus stretches followed eventually by eccentric stretches plus of course ice, elevation, supportive shoes and I've been taped up etc). I've been so desperate to dance but every time I tested myself I knew it wasn't right, I could barely drive at one point with the back of my shoe digging in whenever I pressed the clutch - thought I was going to have to trade in for an automatic car but I just changed my shoes instead lol! So I've been really careful as the last thing I wanted was a rupture! In the last few weeks I've just started doing barre with no rises on my left leg plus some gentle centre exercises, definitely no allegro yet! Back to body balance and swimming (which strangely also aggravated it!) and it's OK, not perfect, I'm still aware of it but I'm getting there! I'm desperate to get back to Zumba but I think that would certainly be pushing it!! So no real point to my post, just a bit of a moan which it sounded like it was ok to do on this thread! But glad to be getting slowly back to normal now! Sorry to hear about your difficulties Mimi but sounds as though you're doing the right thing going back to basics for a while, nothing is worth risking your health or chronic injury for! I bought a membership for barre concept, it's one of the many popular barre workouts around. You can pay £9 to have access to their online workouts for a month and there are some floor ones in there. Don't think they would really help with technique but some exercises help with core strength and flexibility and for me it was just something different I could do while I was out of action and better than a class because I could pick and choose the bits that I knew I could manage! I also do Boris Kniaseff's floor barre sometimes, the style of it seems to suit me better than others I've come across though I'm sure they're all very good Edited January 15, 2014 by Aurora Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 When I was last allowed to swim properly (as opposed to just doing my hydrotherapy exercises), I wasn't allowed to use my arms and legs at the same time. On my front, I used to put a float between my knees and just do front crawl arms. On my back, float between knees again and scull with my arms. If swimming using your legs aggravates any injury, this might be a way forward. If you have an upper body, arm or shoulder injury, the opposite can be tried - i.e. laying on your back, hugging a float, and only kicking with your legs. Obviously check with your physio first but if anyone likes swimming but their injury precludes using legs - or arms - this can work really well. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 I do that with a float sometimes, just for variety as I do quite a few lengths when I go. I'm not really a massive fan of swimming though so didn't mind missing out, it was just odd as I thought swimming would be the one thing that wouldn't cause pain!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Was it breast stroke which aggravated it do you know......did it hurt more when doing breast stroke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 I have heard that breast stroke is not that great for one's lower back .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Aurora, I am sorry to hear about your achilles tendinopathy - must be frustrating not to be able to dance for a while...Yes it is fine to have a good moan here, I believe it is very threaputic . I must try Boris Kniaseff's Floor Barre DVD some time...apart from the recommendation from Balleteacher and Aurora, John Cranko School's students demonstrating sounds very enticing. Dancer Sugar Plum, what a lovely story! But then the lady on the train must also noted you poise before coming to her conclusion. I have one burning question of the moment. When you are more or less floor bound, how do you warm up before stretching? Normally I would either walk on the spot for about 10 minutes (normally watching some ballet Youtube video) or do the stretch after a hot bath. I have seen a floor-ish warm-up exercise as well, but curios to know if there other ways to warm-up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Was it breast stroke which aggravated it do you know......did it hurt more when doing breast stroke?I'm not sure really as I change strokes for each length but I do a lot of breast stroke so it's entirely possible! It just started really throbbing after a while! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I have one burning question of the moment. When you are more or less floor bound, how do you warm up before stretching? Normally I would either walk on the spot for about 10 minutes (normally watching some ballet Youtube video) or do the stretch after a hot bath. I have seen a floor-ish warm-up exercise as well, but curios to know if there other ways to warm-up. I don't think a wam up is really essential if you're doing floor barre as you start with the easiest exercises and there's no body weight on your joints or anything. I guess you could do things on the floor like ankle circles, hip rotations and should rolls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancer Sugar Plum Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Dancer Sugar Plum, what a lovely story! But then the lady on the train must also noted you poise before coming to her conclusion. Thank you Mimi, that's very sweet of you to say so. But I think it's just a bit unusual to see pointe shoes on a train. Well, it seems to be in the UK anyway! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I don't think a wam up is really essential if you're doing floor barre as you start with the easiest exercises and there's no body weight on your joints or anything. I guess you could do things on the floor like ankle circles, hip rotations and should rolls. Oh, i was not clear on this... I was thinking about when I do not want to do the full floor barre session but still want some stretch. I know I might be becoming a bit paranoid may be, but then I am not getting any younger... I guess I could also use some pilates (I have Darcy Bussels' book somewhere) warm-up sequence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I have heard that breast stroke is not that great for one's lower back .... You are correct; especially if pain is aggravated by arching the back. It's also not good if you have neck problems either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 When I had my right sided back problem recently which made it particularly painful to bend towards the right or backwards (apart from the general pain) my osteo said if I went swimming (which I haven't for ages anyway) to be wary of doing too much breaststroke it would be better to vary the strokes but a bit of breast stroke was okay. I wondered in the poster who had a foot problem whether its because in breast stroke there is more use of the foot in the kick out etc whereas in crawl its more of a relaxed foot though still repetitively active! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'll be aware of that and limit breaststroke then! Maybe I should try and learn butterfly or dolphin(!) from my daughter then, that would certainly entertain the other swimmers lol! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Oh, i was not clear on this... I was thinking about when I do not want to do the full floor barre session but still want some stretch. I know I might be becoming a bit paranoid may be, but then I am not getting any younger... I guess I could also use some pilates (I have Darcy Bussels' book somewhere) warm-up sequence. Yes I should think some Pilates or floor barre would suffice as a warm up. I guess just increase the intensity of the stretch very gradually to ensure you're properly warm rather than dropping straight into splits or something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I had some improver swimming lessons last year and was hilarious doing the butterfly I need another ten years to master that one!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 17, 2014 Author Share Posted January 17, 2014 I had some improver swimming lessons last year and was hilarious doing the butterfly I need another ten years to master that one!! Those dolphine kickes, so difficult! I feel I need about 10 years of imporver's swimming lessons in order to make swimming meaningful aerobic exercise for me... I can swim, but can't really able to swim 20minutes or so uninterupted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 In the butterfly it's finding the rythym of the stroke which I find difficult and it is so totally exhausting to do you would wonder why anyone would want to specialise in it!! But when it is done by an expert Olympic level swimmer it does look rather good and they make it look so easy(parallels with ballet there!) Just occasionally if I managed just two good flows with it I got to the joy of the stroke but usually I was exhausted by just halfway down the LEARNER pool!! It's a stroke which is probably not that compatible for young serious ballet dancers as it must build up the shoulder muscles more than even crawl does! However for older adult recreational.....but also serious....dancers swimming can be good especially if injured just doing a bit of each stroke(I learned how to do backstroke properly last year too) is good exercise for the joints and can build up aerobic potential. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 (edited) Back from tonight's biginners+ class. No grand allegro in this class. Tried out double pirouette, en dehor and en dedan - both fine! Balance issue (medical) getting better, I think. However being in the centre is still somwhat disorientating, so will keep away from my normal classes just yet. Worked a lot on turn out and articulation of my feet - who said beginners' class are easy???? Edited January 20, 2014 by mimi66 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancer Sugar Plum Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Back from tonight's biginners+ class. No grand allegro in this class. Tried out double pirouette, en dehor and en dedan - both fine! Balance issue (medical) getting better, I think. However being in the centre is still somwhat disorientating, so will keep away from my normal classes just yet. Worked a lot on turn out and articulation of my feet - who said beginners' class are easy???? If you understand that beginners' classes are not easy, then it is proof you are an advanced dancer who has been well-trained and very accomplished. I'm glad your balance issue is getting better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chinafish Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 who said beginners' class are easy???? Quite often my muscles ache more after a beginners class than an intermediate class...!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Was going to say the same thing chinafish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I went back to non weight bearing pilates last week. It's amazing how such small movements done correctly can have such an effect. Often what looks simple can work at a deeper level with less being in fact more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjuli_Bai Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 The worst injury I suffered during my career was a badly torn groin muscle. The ability to do larger movements came back within 6 months. The finer - smaller - movements such as petit battement took a year. It was 3 yrs before it was completely healed. I could lift my leg to 90 (and above) degrees and hold it there long before I could lift it two inches and hold it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 If you understand that beginners' classes are not easy, then it is proof you are an advanced dancer who has been well-trained and very accomplished. I'm glad your balance issue is getting better. Dancer Sugar Plum, nice of you to say so - I am very flattered! I certainly have been well-trained in that allof my ballet teachers (past and present) are all great teachers. Full of passion and love for ballet, and so much patience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 chinafish and LinMM, yes I feel the same... In an ideal world I should be putting in the same amount of effort in the basic technique when doing higher level classes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Glad to hear you are getting better, Balleteacher! The worst injury I suffered during my career was a badly torn groin muscle. The ability to do larger movements came back within 6 months. The finer - smaller - movements such as petit battement took a year. It was 3 yrs before it was completely healed. I could lift my leg to 90 (and above) degrees and hold it there long before I could lift it two inches and hold it. I did not know that smaller movements takes more work... how interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 (continuing from the above post)... could this be because working a small and specific area actually involves using rest of the body in a specific way as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 If its one of those Pilates type exercises where you lie on the floor and lift legs it's much more excruciating holding them just a few inches off the floor than lifting them up to the ceiling! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) Well this week I shall be back to my normal class, at least that is the intention! I am still a bit worried about whether I have recovered enough to avoid those spatially-challenged (normally worse in the new year till about mid-Feb, due to new year's resolutions), but got to start somewhere.... Happy that during my recovery period I got to work on my turn out and feet articulation. Also going to open beginer's class (safer because no grand allegro) was great to concentrate those points after working on it on the floor barre. In fact, last night in my beginner's plus class, I even earned "well done!" from my teacher! She was my first ballet teacher (as an adult), I keep going back to her class from time to time. And as I get more experienced, I appreciate her dancing ability (both technique and musicality) more and more. Thought I think it was more because I was inspired to try doing little details correctly (such as always going back/through the propper 5th position, and to have the feet going through the floor, propperly articulated each tendu, jete, everything) after watching young dancers at the Prix de Lausanne. All wonderful dancers, and all so meticulous about each basic technique! They understand that without being able to do the basics, there are no "performance". It is not "techinique vs performance", they know that sound technical ability is a presupposition for ballet dancers, without which on wouldn't even begin to talk about "performance" or "my style". Let's see what will happen in today's class... Edited February 4, 2014 by mimi66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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