Tried It, And This Happened: Adult Ballet Classes Over Gym Workouts
I hate the gym. I hate the smell of the rubber flooring, I hate the repetitive actions of working out, I hate the equipment that may as well be torture devices. As soon as I graduated high school and no longer had to attend gym class, I stopped all physical activity except for playing with my dog, and chasing my nieces and nephew around.
Then last year, I made a resolution to be more active. I eat healthy and am all about wellness and self-care, but getting myself to go to the gym was not up my alley. I know how important it is to stay active though, especially as I continue to get older. So I decided to try different options in hopes of finding something that would stick.
via Jenstar yoga
I signed up for a barre class. I did a couple barre classes back in high school and remembered enjoying them, so I figured I’d give it a shot. The class was intense! I stuck with it for a few months. Every day before class, I dreaded going, but always felt so good once it was over! I felt more productive and I was proud of myself to making it through another class. I also noticed a huge increase in my physical ability shortly after attending regularly. I could lift heavier weights, was less out of breath, and could hold my form better and for longer periods of time. But I still wasn’t a fan. The room was always pretty crowded and the class felt more like high interval training than a dance class, which is what was so appealing about a barre class to me.
via ThoughtCo
That’s when it clicked. I wanted something more like a dance class and less like a fitness class, so why not just take a dance class?? It turns out there are so many options for adult beginner classes. I knew I wanted to take ballet, so I found a local studio that offered classes and signed myself up. I obviously spent the next few days finding the cutest ballet outfits and picked up a pair of ballet slippers.
When the day of my first class came around, I felt dread again. I was so self-conscious all of a sudden! What if I’m terrible? I don’t want people watching me dance! I had to keep reminding myself that this was a beginners class, so nobody was going to be very good. The worst case would be that I hate this class and after one hour, never have to go back. I slid on my ballet slippers and entered the studio.
You guys, dance classes are SO much fun!! I’m so glad I pushed through the initial dread, because I instantly fell in love once the class got started. An hour FLEW by, the complete opposite of how I felt in the gym or barre classes. It’s not only a great workout, but also teaches you to have better posture and to be more graceful in your everyday life. I’ve been taking ballet classes for almost a year now and I am obsessed.
I highly recommend dance classes as workouts. Try a hip-hop class! Follow your childhood dreams of tap dancing! Learn the waltz! Grab a friend and make it something to do together! I promise you’ll be happy you tried it, and you’ll come away with a new skill to boot!
Cover via City Academy