Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/12/2012

Question
hi
i wrote too you some time ago about my daughter
her ballet teacher gave her stretches to do
and it has inproved but her legs are not going
any further
we bought the front splits dvd and she hates it so we pick a couple of exercises out of it but sometimes i do wounder if  she is doing it right
then she joined a flex and tone class and could not move for three days
so my daughter is doing darcey pilates dvd but i wounder if she is doing it right
i also found a pilates instructor who says if she does pilates one day then yoga it will help
her teacher just says sretch more but she could be doing it wrong
hope you can help as i feel if i do not get this right my daughter will lose her chance to try to fullfill a career in dance

Answer
Hi Sam. It's too bad your daughter hates the Front Splits Fast routine. It takes a lot of patience, and also I hope she will come to understand how the myofascial release factor influences how flexible she can get. Maybe she'll get back to it sometime.

Pilates is very strengthening, and is designed to work on the core muscles, or the postural muscles. These are the muscles needed for raising the legs above ninety degrees to the front and the side. I would agree that alternating Pilates and yoga is a good combination. A class now and then would be good, to make sure she is doing it right.

Whichever routine your daughter sticks with, she should stay at it for at least three months. It's hard to predict just how quickly she will get a significant result - she has growth spurts and changing hormones which influence her energy level and strength, and patience. It's not easy!

It sounds like her teacher realizes she has a strong ambition in ballet and is willing to track her progress carefully.

Since I cannot see your daughter dance ballet, I can't say any more. It seems to me you are being very supportive and there probably isn't any more you can do right now - except get a professional evaluation of her perhaps by way of a summer intensive at a professional school, and see what the pro teachers think of her work.

I understand that it is a huge family investment in having a child pursue ballet. I urge you to always keep in mind that in case she does not go on to dance professionally, that you have given her an invaluable chance to know how hard she can push herself and achieve results. This could give her the confidence in her abilities to excel in another area far more than she would have if she (and you) had not battled at ballet for years.

She is fortunate to have your backing on this, but it is ultimately up to her and her physical ability.

I hope these comments have helped. Regards, Dianne.