Exercise

suburbaknght

Well-Known Member
So I've been looking to vary my exercise routine lately and was wondering what suggestions people had for workouts that will specifically help your dancing or at least improve your body for dancing.
 
Jumping rope is great for coordination and lower leg endurance. Not bad for cardoiovascular conditioning either
 
So many different kinds of exercise helps. Pilates is great for your core. Weights for your legs and arms give you strength. Cardio = endurance. I'd say just mix it up. Oh, and I had a personal training session where I was told to use a nylon ladder (laid out on the floor) to run through, lifting my legs as high as possible. I will say that it is probably similar to using a jump rope, but you have to use a bit more coordination to get each foot into each square -- so I think it helps with agility. He also had me take a 6 lb. medicine ball, and standing perpendicular to a wall, turn at the waist and throw it against the wall and catch it...repeatedly. Good for the waist...and perhaps turns? Don't know yet...but it's all working.
 
Cardio = endurance. .
There are at least two kinds of endurance involved in dancing. Cardiovascular and muscular. They don't always go hand in hand beacuse cardiovascular endurande seems to be a systemic quality while muscular endurance can be localized. At least in my experience this seems to be the case
 
Anyone have any suggestions for some LOW-IMPACT cardio? I've just relearned why I stopped use the jump rope (it hurts my knee and ankle. A lot.) I do the stationary bike thing, but I'm looking for something a little more full-body but that doesn't require running or jumping (which pound too much on the knee--I broke my right knee when I was fourteen and it's never been quite the same. Lucky I'm one of the 30% or so of skaters who's a "leftie".) Swimming's not really an option as there's no pool around here, it's winter, and I can't afford to join a health club.
 
My poor skis are rotting in their bag. It's not easy to find trails in the Boston 'burbs! (If anyone knows a park that's good in the winter, please, let me know.)
 
Anyone have any suggestions for some LOW-IMPACT cardio? I've just relearned why I stopped use the jump rope (it hurts my knee and ankle. A lot.) I do the stationary bike thing, but I'm looking for something a little more full-body but that doesn't require running or jumping (which pound too much on the knee--I broke my right knee when I was fourteen and it's never been quite the same. Lucky I'm one of the 30% or so of skaters who's a "leftie".) Swimming's not really an option as there's no pool around here, it's winter, and I can't afford to join a health club.
kickboxing, high-low, and floorworks, also spinning
 
Kickboxing killed my knee (I was probably not doing it correctly). Have you ever seen a "treadclimber", DOI? Low impact, but a good workout. Combo between the obvious...stair climber and treadmill.
 
The elliptical is a great low impact cardio machine. I use it all the time and, barring not setting it too high enough resistance or going fast enough, it'll make you sweat!!!
 
Kickboxing killed my knee (I was probably not doing it correctly). Have you ever seen a "treadclimber", DOI? Low impact, but a good workout. Combo between the obvious...stair climber and treadmill.
kick will tear your knee up laterally if you have shoes with too much grip and don't turn your knee when you turn your body...true
 

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