What if we ballet workout on Dec 5?

7th
July 2010

The New York City Ballet Workout Vol 1 & 2 - click the image to buy (and I get a few pennies)

I did this workout for the first time on Monday. I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of the type of workout it would be.

It’s set up in 17 short sections, starting with a warmup and moving through stretches into dynamic strength training moves. It doesn’t require any equipment (unless you want a mat for floor work) but it does require a little bit of floor space and a decent amount of concentration. You also need a reasonable familiarity with ballet, since the DVD moves pretty quickly from one movement to the next with the assumption that you are comfortable with the positions and terms. There is a voiceover (which you can choose not to hear) that includes directions, but those directions don’t necessarily include every required move, and often come a little late. If you’ve never done ballet, you’ll find it challenging and maybe even frustrating. For me, it’s been a few years since my last ballet class, but I was comfortable enough with the moves to keep up for the most part. I can say with certainty that after two or three more sessions with the DVD I will be doing the moves without issue, and maybe without the voiceover.

The workout is relaxing and calm, which is a nice change. It’s also sort of sneaky. When I finished, I was sweaty but not near death… so I wondered how hard I’d really worked. The next morning, I could definitely feel it in my core, so I know that I got some strength training in. I also liked the option to do the workout with a classical accompaniment or with contemporary music (I chose classical), but I will say that the video is 90 minutes long (including a short intro by Sarah Jessica Parker?) so you’ve really got to be able to devote some time to it.

All in all, I think it’s a great workout for someone with a dance background and a moderate fitness level. I will definitely be doing it on a regular basis.

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It’s Wednesday, which means another What If post… and since my writing progress has hit a bit of a standstill (I’m still shopping my work everywhere I can) I want to talk about something else that’s a big What If for me…

Mizfit & Bookieboo have come together to run a half marathon in Vegas on December 5th. They’re encouraging everyone to make this a goal day, to make this the deadline to achieve a goal of your own, no matter what it is. I really wanted to be a part of this challenge, so let me give you a little glimpse inside my head as I tried to decide what my Dec 5 goal would be…

- I should reach my goal weight

- But what if I can’t? That’s two pounds a week and lately I’ve only been losing one.

- But isn’t that the point, to push myself?

- But is focusing on weight the wrong way to go? Should I be aiming for something “healthy” instead of something associated with a number?

- Am I just saying that because I’m scared I can’t do it?

- Well, what if I can’t do it? Numbers are hard to control. If I set a number goal, am I just setting myself up for failure?

And on, and on… until I nearly drove myself insane. So I let it go, and for a while I thought about just letting this challenge go unnoticed. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt like this was a good opportunity for me to push myself to greater heights. I still can’t get past the vicious circle in my head when I think about weight goals, so instead here are my goals for December 5.

Complete Couch to 5K on or before Sunday, December 5
Walk/run/crawl/jog/roll 13.1 miles (a half marathon) during the weekend of December 4-5

And just in case I’ve fooled you, I’ll admit that I am also hoping secretly to make my weight goal by then as well…

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9 Responses to "What if we ballet workout on Dec 5?"

I used to have this workout on VHS (so weird to even say that). The leg and core floor exercises were some of the best I’ve ever done, but as a non-dancer, I think what snuck up on me the most personally was how sore my arms were the next day. Since I was so focused on keeping my feet up to speed, I didn’t realize what hard work it is to keep your arms in first position for long stretches of time until later. I might have to invest in this one on DVD (since my last VCR bit the dust some time ago).

1 Jessica said this (July 7, 2010 at 2:53 pm) Reply
so glad youre joining us and so grateful you get it.
that it isnt about running or a half marathon at all.

its about the goals!
and facing the fears of achieving them.

xo xo

2 MizFit said this (July 7, 2010 at 3:35 pm) Reply
Yes, that is physical goal day, not a day to pressure yourself into having a certain amount of weight lost. We just want you to set a goal for yourself and do it on or before that day. We all have limitations, but that is the day to push yourself. XXOO

3 Leah @Bookieboo said this (July 7, 2010 at 5:02 pm) Reply
The challenge of goals is definitely in the long term abandonment of bad habits and creating sustainable good habits. I think it is great that you are trying to focus more on things outside of your weight.

4 Skyler Meine said this (July 7, 2010 at 10:01 pm) Reply