What To Do Before You Dance

Just like exercising, dance is a type of rigorous activity that, if not careful, can cause injury to your body. That is why I'm here to remind you the importance of stretching before and after you dance. It may sound simple and obvious, but you'd be surprised to know how many people do not stretch and get hurt because they forgot this simple task. The first thing you need to do is pick out appropriate attire that allows you to move as well and shoes that allow you to dance freely. Yes, if you do not wear clothing you can move around in or put on hazardous shoes, like baggy pants and loose fit sneakers, you can injure yourself. No one wants to explain that the reason they sprained their ankle was because they tripped over their own pants or fell out of their shoes! Second, take the time out to stretch all of your body. You can start with your upper body. Reach your arm up and bend your body to one side then the other,cross your right arm across your chest and hold it there with your left hand then switch, also you could swing your arms around in big, wide circles. Those are just a few arm warm-ups. Now, for your legs. This can be done by reaching over and touching your toes, lunging, squats, and sitting on the floor with your legs apart and reaching to grab each foot. (this may be difficult for a few people so go as far as you can and with practice you'll soon make it to your toes!) Putting on your favorite tunes can help you become motivated to stretch as well. There are many other stretches out there so don't be afraid to find them out! Go to a yoga class one day, observe fellow dancers, or even throw in some of your own moves that you believe are affective. Now that you're nice and warm, you can begin dancing. But don't forget when you're done to do a quick cool down. Just do some deep breaths, reach up to the sky, bend over and touch your toes then pull your legs into your chest. Cool down streching can help your muscles relax and also help reduce the risk of sore muscles, so it's worth a try! And there you have it, some simple steps that will keep you safe and less likely to pull a muscle during your dance experience.