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| English: A ballet dancer doing barre work. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Printed from ChicagoBusiness.com
Fitness with a ballet twist keeps students on their toes
July 13, 2009
Fitness buffs have tried Jazzercize, Pilates, cardio kickboxing and aerobics to make exercise more interesting.
Break out the tutus, tights and slippers: Power Ballet has come to Chicago.
Personal trainer and fitness center owner Mike George was inspired to offer something new. "I constantly have clients with postural issues," he says. "Ballet is so focused on posture."
Mr. George installed ballet barres and hired ballet instructors for the program, which began in June. It's billed as a way to increase muscular strength, stamina and flexibility for men and women.
"I think the male ego may be a little resistant to the term 'ballet,' " Mr. George says. "But it develops a lot of agility, flexibility and balance."
Among the first clients was Kim Klimek, 42, who co-owns a direct-mail advertising company.
"I had taken ballet as a child and my mom used to teach it," Ms. Klimek said after a recent session. "I didn't remember how difficult it was. I'm sweating head to toe."
Andrew Lurie, 31, a massage therapy student, says he decided to try a free session after seeing it advertised at the gym. He came away impressed. "There's a lot of strength-building and a lot of flexibility exercises," he says. "So much of it is using smaller muscles. They really burn, and pretty quickly."
The class is more than just dance. "Anyone who is skeptical about ballet should just look at the dancers," Mr. Lurie says. "They all have bodies we should envy."
Kelly Martinez, director of personal training at the Edgewater Athletic Club and a trained ballet dancer, has been incorporating ballet into his classes for years.
"Fitness is a hodgepodge of ideas and finding the formula that works best for you," he says. "The key is to have variety because the body adapts quickly."
The Edgewater club was fitted with ballet barres during a recent renovation at Mr. Martinez's request. He teaches plié moves and warm-up techniques from late dancer and choreographer Lester Horton.
"The benefit is that with certain movements of dance, it employs a natural stretch and the person maintains a certain shape," he says. "It will show you where your range of motion is."
©2009 by Crain Communications Inc.
