Expert: Jennifer - 3/9/2005

Question
Hello!

I am a 40-year-old woman who has just started taking adult beginner ballet classes twice weekly.  I studied ballet as a teenager through Intermediate level (never went en pointe), but that was 27 years ago!  After all this time, I remember much of the forms and technique, and I'm looking forward to the physical and mental benefits of ballet.

I would like to become more physically fit and enjoy power-walking.  I was wondering if brisk walks of 30-40 minutes, perhaps twice weekly, would interfere with the muscles that I need to develop for ballet.  

Thanks so much for your advice!  

Answer
I dont think that walking twice a week should interfere with ballet. As long as you keep it low impact and stretch before and after your workouts, it should be good for your body and good for ballet. It will give you an extended cardio workout that ballet generally cannot give you.

Congrats on getting back to ballet! I know you will enjoy it and benefit tremendously from it.