I’m not a ballerina, but I find the world of ballet so fascinating! I’ve been incorporating your stretching tips into my gym routine for ages. Love your channel :)
As an older, adult dancer I am here to tell you..... don't eat chili an hour before class. Attempting barre whilst having heartburn is just awful 😢. Learn from my mistakes (because, yes, I've done this more than once)
4/4 4. Caffeine. Winding down after a performance. Emotions management. As a former nightshift worker, I may have some experiences in common with dancers/performers, who do a lot of physical activity late in the evening. Keep in mind that humans have evolved to be daytime creatures, as opposed to nocturnal creatures, and our bodily functions are designed to work optimally when we get up at daybreak and go to bed at night. Every hour after midnight becomes harder on the body. a) Avoid deep-fried foods near/after midnight. Definitely eat a healthy meal or snack. Some people are ravenous after physical activity, whereas others have little appetite. Eat something, please! Also, stay hydrated. Just FYI: Weight gain is common among nightshift workers who eat heavy meals after midnight featuring deep-fried foods, calorie-laden sauces, and sugary desserts. Sticking to lean protein and vegetables is much better. i) Difficult-to-digest meals which a body can tolerate without difficulty during the day can become problematic after midnight. They can lead to digestive problems, which necessitate laxatives, and that can start to become another problem that is annoying and unnecessary. b) Avoid caffeine after midnight. As mentioned previously, every hour after midnight becomes harder on the body, so drinking coffee at midnight will not cause as many negative side effects as drinking it at 2 AM or 5 AM. The dehydration is worse, and can lead to feelings of nausea; that combined with an increased jitteriness or anxiety from caffeine is very unenjoyable. c) "Night changes many thoughts." -Aragorn, Lord of the Rings (Bonus: "An empty stomach breeds imagination." -PG Wodehouse. There is neuroscience research supporting what many people have discovered for themselves, which is not to make big decisions on an empty stomach.) Emotional sensitivity becomes stronger as the night goes on. Small, mildly annoying interactions with people which would be laughed off during the day can stick in one's mind and take on more significance than necessary. Maybe one has experienced something similar when reading, for example, 20 messages (eg texts, DMs, RUclips comments) that are positive and happy, but there is one message that has even a slightly critical or negative tone, and that instantly overshadows everything else. That is the kind of feeling I mean. Usually after a good day's sleep, and food, the importance of the situation or message will shrink back to the size it should have, and one is left wondering, "Why did this seem like such a big deal at 6 AM?" Knowing that this emotional sensitivity exists, and that it's normal late at night and into the early morning, can help to decrease worry about it when it inevitably happens again. I hope that the information I have tried to provide as succinctly as possible (honest!) is helpful in some way. Thank you very much for the video! ❤
I have found drinking black tea in the morning helps my energy and focus. I don’t drink coffee. a small breakfast helps too, even if it’s just a piece of fruit.
I've just started ballet at 13 so I don't think I will ever get to a professional level but your tips have helped me gain so much confidence, not just in lessons but in my daily life 😊😊
One for the gents. Don't dress for ballet in the dark and put on shorts with pockets inside out. Because you will attend class with pocket winglets. Now, yes, artistically we could be Sylphides but I am assuming their wings are stiff and not flopping around the hips.
good to know that cut toe nail square! I usually drank black coffee before the class, and I notice that I couldn't balance really well since I got annoyed by my fast heart beat, of course, hard to focus on the detail of each movement.
I’m an adult dancer and sometimes I drink coffee during morning class (in a spill proof tumbler) 😬 because otherwise I’m so sluggish and keep messing up combinations. This is what happens when you’re an addict. I do not recommend it - stay away as she says!
I really like the tip 4: don't wear ballet gear under jeans. I am learning figure skating. Previously I found putting on skatings before practice sessions really troublesome (it took me about 10 min to get them to the right tightness) and the amount of time I could have spent on ice. But recently I find the ritual of putting on skates therapeutic and soothing. One can calm down during this time and treat it like a meditation (enjoying the environment, enjoying the beauty of the gears, starts to focus the mind on the sports/dance), which makes the practice more effective once one is in the good mindset.
Would love a Part 2: this was really entertaining. Brought back some memories from when I was a student. Especially that horrible suffocating feeling of having your leotard and tights on underneath jeans: so unhealthy! I think the same is true for after class too. My ballet days are long gone, but I go running most days. However busy I’m going to be when I get back, I try to always change out of my running clothes, especially if I can’t jump in the shower straight away. Sweaty and damp fabrics close to the skin can make your muscles cold, give you a chill, encourage fungal infections and just feel horrible. Thinking back to when I did ballet, I can’t imagine now why I would turn up to class with my u I form on under my jeans, then just layer it all back on afterwards to go home! I guess the time management skills of teenagers and young adults are not as good?
yeh it's so bad for you and when I stopped doing it I so enjoyed the feeling of my skin being allowed to breathe and can't actually believed I did it for so long!
2/4 2. The ingrown toenail situation can be avoided as Isabella described. (Same goes for fingernails, by the way.) Having said that, if it does happen, get it treated as soon as possible. The only painful part is the injection of the local anaesthetic if general anaesthesia is not available. The injection takes approximately 45 seconds, so grit your teeth or practice deep breathing and count (that's how I know it's approximately 45 seconds) and you'll get through it. You will feel much better after the ingrown toenail has been dealt with!
i don’t know why but i expected this video to go in a different direction but i much more prefer this than my imagination lol it’s way more fun and very thought provoking! thank u
This was a lot of fun, helpful too. I did ballet as a hobby growing up, we weren't allowed into ballet class without our hair being in a bun. We used so many pins & grips I can't imagine sleeping in them, it made my head hurt just thinking about it 😅 Adding Epsom salts to your bath is helpful too. You need to put loads in for a really good effect. Epsom salts are high in magnesium (and maybe other minerals) so as you soak it's absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is used for so many processes in the body it's great for post exertion recovery.
My ballet teacher used to say dancers should not ride horses because of the way it affects turn-out. I'm afraid of horses so it was never an issue for me. 😊
1/4 Non-dancer here, enjoying your video and advice very much! I had some supplementary thoughts, which might be of use to young dancers, and which I have split up into four comments because they're kind of long (sorry!): 1. Hair Sleeping with hair tightly drawn back whether it's in a bun or a ponytail or braids can trigger and/or worsen traction alopecia (hair loss). I don't know how it is among ballet dancers, but among rhythmic gymnasts, it's very common to see that they have sparse hair coverage (long hair in a bun, but there is quite a bit of scalp visible). It is not uncommon with artistic gymnasts, but with rhythmic gymnasts, it's noticeably widespread. If dance, sport, school, work, requires such a hairstyle, when one is at home, it is best to wear the hair loose, or at least in a looser style.
No for sure! I literally did this for a few months when I was 10 when I didn’t know what I was doing. But even just doing our hair in a bun everyday tightly back is really bad for the hair long term so we often have it down as much as possible and when dancers are in companies the hair is often nice and loose when not performing to give it a bit of a break while not being in the way
3/4 3. Warming up before dance class or sports practice is not only good INJURY PREVENTION, it is also good for a dancer's mindset (is this a copyrighted term already? I hope so 😄) When one is rushing to training or practice or whatever it's called from school or from work, and one's head is full of those things, warming up one's body can help transition one's mindset from the mental and emotional clutter from the day's activities to focusing on one's dance or sport. The training will likely go more smoothly and might even be (more than usual) enjoyable!
Interesting that my toe nails are completely flat 😅. So to avoid it getting repeatedly cracked open I started cutting it round and it actually helped a lot. It's fascinating hearing opinion from completely opposite side. ❤
I think for younger students it’s something we enjoy doing to make us feel nice just like any other young girl/ women. People tend to stop doing that when they perform and have to cake on thick makeup every night. They wear basically no make up on the day x
Hope you enjoyed some of these funny and slightly insane stories and advice ❤
I’m not a ballerina, but I find the world of ballet so fascinating! I’ve been incorporating your stretching tips into my gym routine for ages. Love your channel :)
Thank you so much!!
As an older, adult dancer I am here to tell you..... don't eat chili an hour before class. Attempting barre whilst having heartburn is just awful 😢. Learn from my mistakes (because, yes, I've done this more than once)
I would also imagine trying to not fart would also be a challenge. lol.
In some ways, ballet is, indeed, all about sphincter control.😅
4/4
4. Caffeine. Winding down after a performance. Emotions management.
As a former nightshift worker, I may have some experiences in common with dancers/performers, who do a lot of physical activity late in the evening.
Keep in mind that humans have evolved to be daytime creatures, as opposed to nocturnal creatures, and our bodily functions are designed to work optimally when we get up at daybreak and go to bed at night.
Every hour after midnight becomes harder on the body.
a) Avoid deep-fried foods near/after midnight. Definitely eat a healthy meal or snack. Some people are ravenous after physical activity, whereas others have little appetite. Eat something, please! Also, stay hydrated.
Just FYI: Weight gain is common among nightshift workers who eat heavy meals after midnight featuring deep-fried foods, calorie-laden sauces, and sugary desserts. Sticking to lean protein and vegetables is much better.
i) Difficult-to-digest meals which a body can tolerate without difficulty during the day can become problematic after midnight. They can lead to digestive problems, which necessitate laxatives, and that can start to become another problem that is annoying and unnecessary.
b) Avoid caffeine after midnight. As mentioned previously, every hour after midnight becomes harder on the body, so drinking coffee at midnight will not cause as many negative side effects as drinking it at 2 AM or 5 AM. The dehydration is worse, and can lead to feelings of nausea; that combined with an increased jitteriness or anxiety from caffeine is very unenjoyable.
c) "Night changes many thoughts." -Aragorn, Lord of the Rings
(Bonus: "An empty stomach breeds imagination." -PG Wodehouse. There is neuroscience research supporting what many people have discovered for themselves, which is not to make big decisions on an empty stomach.)
Emotional sensitivity becomes stronger as the night goes on. Small, mildly annoying interactions with people which would be laughed off during the day can stick in one's mind and take on more significance than necessary.
Maybe one has experienced something similar when reading, for example, 20 messages (eg texts, DMs, RUclips comments) that are positive and happy, but there is one message that has even a slightly critical or negative tone, and that instantly overshadows everything else. That is the kind of feeling I mean.
Usually after a good day's sleep, and food, the importance of the situation or message will shrink back to the size it should have, and one is left wondering, "Why did this seem like such a big deal at 6 AM?"
Knowing that this emotional sensitivity exists, and that it's normal late at night and into the early morning, can help to decrease worry about it when it inevitably happens again.
I hope that the information I have tried to provide as succinctly as possible (honest!) is helpful in some way.
Thank you very much for the video! ❤
I have found drinking black tea in the morning helps my energy and focus. I don’t drink coffee. a small breakfast helps too, even if it’s just a piece of fruit.
I've just started ballet at 13 so I don't think I will ever get to a professional level but your tips have helped me gain so much confidence, not just in lessons but in my daily life 😊😊
You never know! Just keep taking action everyday!
@@balletwithisabella Thank you :) I love your content!!
Many professional ballerinas started at 13 or even later, work hard girl, because it is completely possible
Misty Copeland started at 13!
One for the gents. Don't dress for ballet in the dark and put on shorts with pockets inside out. Because you will attend class with pocket winglets. Now, yes, artistically we could be Sylphides but I am assuming their wings are stiff and not flopping around the hips.
good to know that cut toe nail square! I usually drank black coffee before the class, and I notice that I couldn't balance really well since I got annoyed by my fast heart beat, of course, hard to focus on the detail of each movement.
I’m an adult dancer and sometimes I drink coffee during morning class (in a spill proof tumbler) 😬 because otherwise I’m so sluggish and keep messing up combinations. This is what happens when you’re an addict. I do not recommend it - stay away as she says!
I really like the tip 4: don't wear ballet gear under jeans. I am learning figure skating. Previously I found putting on skatings before practice sessions really troublesome (it took me about 10 min to get them to the right tightness) and the amount of time I could have spent on ice. But recently I find the ritual of putting on skates therapeutic and soothing. One can calm down during this time and treat it like a meditation (enjoying the environment, enjoying the beauty of the gears, starts to focus the mind on the sports/dance), which makes the practice more effective once one is in the good mindset.
I agree! And the act of taking them off afterwards is like it’s “job done” and now you’re going to leave and relax. You did a good job. 🙏
I'm definitely guilty of putting my jeans over ballet tights and taking too long to take them off 🙈 never cut my hair though haha
Hahah that’s good. It’s just me who is crazy then 😂😂
As usual, great advice! Love all your posts Isabella!
Would love a Part 2: this was really entertaining. Brought back some memories from when I was a student. Especially that horrible suffocating feeling of having your leotard and tights on underneath jeans: so unhealthy! I think the same is true for after class too. My ballet days are long gone, but I go running most days. However busy I’m going to be when I get back, I try to always change out of my running clothes, especially if I can’t jump in the shower straight away. Sweaty and damp fabrics close to the skin can make your muscles cold, give you a chill, encourage fungal infections and just feel horrible. Thinking back to when I did ballet, I can’t imagine now why I would turn up to class with my u I form on under my jeans, then just layer it all back on afterwards to go home! I guess the time management skills of teenagers and young adults are not as good?
yeh it's so bad for you and when I stopped doing it I so enjoyed the feeling of my skin being allowed to breathe and can't actually believed I did it for so long!
A lot of fun, with some good advice! ❤
the coolest channel on yt!
2/4
2. The ingrown toenail situation can be avoided as Isabella described. (Same goes for fingernails, by the way.) Having said that, if it does happen, get it treated as soon as possible. The only painful part is the injection of the local anaesthetic if general anaesthesia is not available. The injection takes approximately 45 seconds, so grit your teeth or practice deep breathing and count (that's how I know it's approximately 45 seconds) and you'll get through it. You will feel much better after the ingrown toenail has been dealt with!
Yeh get it done!! ❤️
i don’t know why but i expected this video to go in a different direction but i much more prefer this than my imagination lol it’s way more fun and very thought provoking! thank u
Would love a part two!
great! ;-)
This was a lot of fun, helpful too. I did ballet as a hobby growing up, we weren't allowed into ballet class without our hair being in a bun. We used so many pins & grips I can't imagine sleeping in them, it made my head hurt just thinking about it 😅 Adding Epsom salts to your bath is helpful too. You need to put loads in for a really good effect. Epsom salts are high in magnesium (and maybe other minerals) so as you soak it's absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is used for so many processes in the body it's great for post exertion recovery.
This was so funny. the whole video. love the add ins.
4:24 was awesome.
Liked and shared out, thank you!
My ballet teacher used to say dancers should not ride horses because of the way it affects turn-out. I'm afraid of horses so it was never an issue for me. 😊
1/4 Non-dancer here, enjoying your video and advice very much! I had some supplementary thoughts, which might be of use to young dancers, and which I have split up into four comments because they're kind of long (sorry!):
1. Hair
Sleeping with hair tightly drawn back whether it's in a bun or a ponytail or braids can trigger and/or worsen traction alopecia (hair loss). I don't know how it is among ballet dancers, but among rhythmic gymnasts, it's very common to see that they have sparse hair coverage (long hair in a bun, but there is quite a bit of scalp visible). It is not uncommon with artistic gymnasts, but with rhythmic gymnasts, it's noticeably widespread. If dance, sport, school, work, requires such a hairstyle, when one is at home, it is best to wear the hair loose, or at least in a looser style.
No for sure! I literally did this for a few months when I was 10 when I didn’t know what I was doing. But even just doing our hair in a bun everyday tightly back is really bad for the hair long term so we often have it down as much as possible and when dancers are in companies the hair is often nice and loose when not performing to give it a bit of a break while not being in the way
@@balletwithisabella Yes, great idea!
3/4
3. Warming up before dance class or sports practice is not only good INJURY PREVENTION, it is also good for a dancer's mindset (is this a copyrighted term already? I hope so 😄) When one is rushing to training or practice or whatever it's called from school or from work, and one's head is full of those things, warming up one's body can help transition one's mindset from the mental and emotional clutter from the day's activities to focusing on one's dance or sport. The training will likely go more smoothly and might even be (more than usual) enjoyable!
I"m the only person in my adult ballet class that warms up and stretches after class. I guess the others don't care.
Hii could you maybe show us ur warmup routine before class? I’d be really interested in that 😅✨
Sure! It’s on my platform - the class is called “warm up routine”
@@balletwithisabella okki, thank you! 🫶🏻
Enjoyed this talk even though I'm a male. Wonderful tips for the girls.
Interesting that my toe nails are completely flat 😅. So to avoid it getting repeatedly cracked open I started cutting it round and it actually helped a lot. It's fascinating hearing opinion from completely opposite side. ❤
wow! lucky you!! you are rare! haha
❤
Why do ballerinas put on makeup when getting ready for class?
Probably for the same reasons why many people put on make up in general.
I think for younger students it’s something we enjoy doing to make us feel nice just like any other young girl/ women. People tend to stop doing that when they perform and have to cake on thick makeup every night. They wear basically no make up on the day x
Because I know I will keep watching myself in the mirror for more than an hour so I wanna look nice