As dancers, the one thing we rely on most is our body. It does practically all of the job for us, working for days and weeks on end like a well-oiled machine so that we can put up performances worth watching. Our passion for dance, however, can make us forget how physically demanding it can be, and it often happens that we forget to take care of our bodies when we need to. The last thing we should do is take our bodies for granted. Here are a very few basic things we could do in order to take care of and give back to our bodies.
The main reason someone could walk into Foodys in the evening and see the Dance Club forming huge circles is for, perhaps, the most important part of our practice sessions – warming up. Hopping right into intense dance routines without getting your body used to movement is detrimental, especially considering how many injuries can occur when you’re dancing. The importance of cooling down lies in the same vein. Listening to one’s body is important and only preventing muscle soreness with medical sprays is not what will help in the proper, long-term conditioning of the body.
As a college student, one thing that feels especially foreign at times is sleep. Between submitting assignments last minute, late night practice and pulling all-nighters to study for exams, our bodies are constantly running on low amounts of sleep. Studies show that even one night of poor sleep, quality-wise or time-wise, is enough to cause a decline in energy levels and cognitive ability. Chronic sleep deprivation is, without a doubt, much more harmful, causing an increase in chances of developing major health risks, such as heart disease. Our body also repairs our muscles when we sleep, and hence sleep is especially important to dancers, in order to avoid undue strain caused to our body and prevent injuries. Sleep and rest also help with controlling stress levels, which is especially important when the pressure rises as competitions and college fests commence.
Dancing, it goes without saying, calls for loads of movement and is very physically demanding. It is, therefore, imperative to replenish the calories and nutrients that our body uses up while dancing with a nutritious, balanced diet. Complex carbohydrates should constitute the largest portion of a meal, since they are the most important part of our diet, as they form our primary source of energy. Proteins aid in tissue repair and a balance in the amounts of vitamins and minerals is also essential for physical activity that uses these nutrients up at a rapid pace. Adequate hydration, also is equal in importance, as dancers lose up to 2 litres of fluid per hour during an average practice session, Regular water consumption throughout the day is necessary, and small amounts of water should be consumed throughout practice, around every 15 to 30 minutes.
Another important aspect contributing to a dancer’s physical health is exercise. Dancing provides an amazing cardio workout to the body; however, strength training is equally important, in order for one’s body to be able to sustain movements, perform moves clearly and improve posture and lines. To perform certain movements that call for the body to stretch, flexibility is important, and hence, training to improve flexibility is essential as well.
In other words, our body tends to provide us with physical cues pointing to its needs, and we must take care of it accordingly. For a dancer, our body is our most important instrument, and while persisting through tough situations and injuries is admirable, it always carries risk for damage that can be avoided. Things as simple as eating and hydrating yourself well aid your body in the long run, and 20 years from now, your body will thank you for taking care of it.
Comments