5 Self-Care Tips for Dancers
Looking after your mind and body is essential for everyone, but this is especially crucial if you are a dancer. Taking the time to create and maintain a self-care routine can mean the difference between you being an average performer and an exceptional one.
Not to mention the fact that, as a dancer, you more than likely find it impossible to separate your life and your love of dancing, meaning that if you feel good overall, you will feel great when dancing.
From indulging in regular massages to investing in compression garments to cutting yourself some slack when it comes to other aspects of your life, keep reading to discover the five best self-care tips for dancers that will ensure you can continue to enjoy your passion well into your twilight years.
1. Adequately fuel your body
Unfortunately, as a dancer, you cannot reward your hard work with takeout or a few glasses of wine. Instead, you need to focus on filling your body with nutrient-dense foods such as healthy fats, protein and a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.
It can also be a good idea to listen to what your body needs. Sometimes you will crave more carb-heavy foods, and other times you will fancy a lighter meal. As long as you are not eating processed, high sugar foods, it is ok to just embrace your cravings as this is arguably what your body needs at that particular time.
This dentist who does inlays and onlays in Redwood City also adds that aside from eating enough food, it’s also recommended to visit your doctors regularly to ensure that your health is in good condition. Remember that your whole body is your tool as a dancer and if you’re not healthy, it will affect your dancing.
2. Invest in compression socks
If you have ever suffered from tired, achy and swollen legs after a particularly energetic dance or workout session, you may want to consider purchasing some GO2 socks that are specifically designed for athletes.
Having the ability to alleviate muscle soreness, reduce swelling and lower your recovery time, compression socks are vital for any dancer who is serious about their craft and their overall physical abilities.
3. Indulge in massage
Regular massage should be an integral part of any dancer’s self-care routine. However, do not think that this has to mean expensive sports massage sessions. You can easily carry out a muscle pampering session from the comfort of your own home with a simple foam roller and a tennis ball.
Start by enjoying a hot bath or shower, then pop on some warm clothes and start rolling out your muscles. Finish with a good old stretch and apply some arnica cream for good measure.
4. Cut yourself some slack
It takes dedication to become a good dancer, and you need to accept that other areas of your life may slide when you are focusing on a new routine. This is perfectly normal, and you may need to learn to drop a few things from your to-do list or risk become overwhelmed and overstressed.
5. Start each day with meditation
If you are not a fan of meditation already, then you soon will be. As a dancer, you need to be just as mentally focused as you are physically, and daily meditation can help you to achieve this.
By simply taking 10 minutes each morning to prepare for the day, you will find your training session or dance class goes a lot more smoothly.
Don’t forget to pay close attention to your breathing techniques, especially if you have a stressful day ahead.