Growing up I was a painfully shy child. I would hide under my mum’s skirt if anyone dared to look at me let alone talk to me. My mum tried taking me to different classes to help socialise me but nothing really worked (in fact some of the classes I attended made things worse) until ..read more

This 1 minute plie wall sit challenge targets your quads and calves and also your glutes and hip flexors. You need a wall to lean on and some serious focus. Follow on with me and if necessary practice in front of a mirror so you can see if your legs are at a 90 degree ..read more

You will need some light dumbbells for this barre arms workout (the ones I’m using are 1kg each). Not only is this workout toning and strengthening your arms but it’s improving your posture and balance and working your legs! Just 5 minutes a day and you will soon feel the difference in your strength and tone. FREE GUIDE // Think you don’t have time to exercise? Think again. Grab your FREE copy of “Unlocking the secret to consistent fitness: strategies for time-poor busy women” now: https://breakingballet.com/make-exercise-happen/ THE BBACKSTAGE MEMBERSHIP // If you want to take your health an ..read more

Trends come and go. We see it in fashion, skincare, fitness, diets, entertainment and technology. But why oh why do women also have to contend with body trends?  In the last decade alone we have seen the hourglass figure popularised by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Beyonce, the athletic build promoted by fitness influencers and the rise of athleisure fashion. The big booty was again popularised by Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez and don’t even get me started on the thigh gap trend! Slim thick (a combination of a slim waist and thicker thighs and buttocks), flat stomach, natural an ..read more

Try this 5 minute ballet fitness boost for when you feel like taking a nap or just need to hit the reset button. These 3 exercises take just 5 minutes and will give you the energy boost you need to stay productive throughout your day. They will get your heart rate up and will increase your breathing, which in turn helps to lower stress levels and improve breathing function. FREE GUIDE // Think you don’t have time to exercise? Think again. Grab your FREE copy of “Unlocking the secret to consistent fitness: strategies for time-poor busy women” now: https://breakingballet.com/make-exercise-happen ..read more

Even if you spend 30 minutes a day doing specific structured workouts (such as the ballet-inspired workouts on this channel, walking, cycling, or swimming), it’s still important to get up and move for at least a few minutes, multiple times throughout the day.  For optimal health, the answer is not to bust out a workout first thing in the morning and then spend the rest of the day sitting. The more you sit, the more your large muscles are not using glucose, the body’s main energy source. Moving for up to 5 minutes several times a day is incredibly beneficial for our health. Try these stand ..read more

Views on aging can vary across cultures and societies. But some fairly common views of aging include decline and ill-health. Decline includes a decline in physical attractiveness, ability to perform everyday tasks, and also new learning. And older people are often portrayed as frail, vulnerable, and dependent, and associated with ill-health. Is it any wonder that none of us are particularly looking forward to the prospect of growing old?!  But there is another perspective available to us. We can choose to shift our mindset around aging and instead view aging as an art form rather than as ..read more

Up to 60% of the adult population will have low back pain at some point in their lifetime. But dancers are renowned for their good posture, so how do they do it? Good posture comes from core strength – which includes your back, hips and glutes as well as your abdominal muscles. Stretching (and subsequently strengthening) these muscles will dramatically improve your posture and remove any aches and pains you may be experiencing. Try these 5 exercises to get you started on fixing your posture now. FREE GUIDE // Think you don’t have time to exercise? Think again. Grab your FREE copy of “Unlockin ..read more

In the realm of physical activities that double as art forms, ballet stands out for its elegance, precision, and grace. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, ballet-inspired movements have the remarkable ability to influence not just our physical fitness but also our mental and emotional well-being. In this blog post, I delve into the transformative power of ballet-inspired movements and explore how they can alter the way we feel and think. Mind-Body Connection: At the heart of ballet lies a deep connection between the mind and body. Every movement is a meticulously choreographed blend of strength, fle ..read more

You’ve seen them. The before and after photos that fitness and diet programmes often use to showcase clients’ transformations and inspire potential customers. However, this approach can have negative effects. These images can promote unrealistic body standards and contribute to body dissatisfaction, as they often fail to depict the full context, such as differences in lighting, posture, or even editing. Additionally, they can create pressure to achieve rapid results, potentially encouraging unhealthy behaviors like extreme dieting or over-exercising. This emphasis on physical appearance over o ..read more