COACH STEPH B

• does running need it? Yes, running is a single side excercise whereby you alternating motion from one leg onto the other, without proper balance and alignment a runner could fall and injure themselves
• Does running develop it? No, not really, this is why it is important for runners to do balance excercises so that they build stability in motion and develop strong proprioceptors and stabilizing muscles which will prevent a runner from getting injured in case they suddenly lose their balance
• Does ballet need it? yes
• Does ballet develop it? yes, absolutely, in fact balance is part of the fundamentals of ballet barre and center exercises, participants learn to shift their bodyweight and center of gravity around so they can move better in space; ballet exercises are excellent for developing strong stabilitsing muscles in the feet and ankles which are locations for some of the most common running injuries

• does running need it? Yes, you absolutely need mobility to be able to run and in particularly to run fast, the body will not be able to make the best use of it’s potential power if it is no able to move properly through space; if your hips or your ankles are too tight this could lead to some common injuries such as shin splints and other form of stress fractures
• Does running develop it? No, running does not develop any form of mobility, in fact running actually makes the body stiff which is why a dynamic warm up combining mobility drills are key in preparing the body for the continuous pounding 
• Does ballet need it? yes, 
• Does ballet develop it? 100% all the work we do in balletbefit classes promote mobility, in turn this enables to move more freely and feel lighter.

• does running need it? Yes! 
• Does running develop it? To a certain extent it does, until it doesn’t; once you start running longer than 45 to 60 minutes the body really starts to dig deep into those glycogen storage and begins to break down muscle tissue as a source of energy, so without the precise fueling during and after the workout it is absolutely mandatory for runners to work on bodyweight strength exercises that will promote further muscular endurance
• Does ballet need it? Yes think of a ballet as you would a marathon, these dancers need their muscular endurance to make it to the grand finale
• Does ballet develop it? Yes, balletbefit is based on developing muscular endurance for runners, all the exercises will help develop a strong lean muscle mass that will enable you to run longer and faster.

• does running need it? Yes, running is a cardio based exercise
• Does running develop it? Yes yes yes running is a high impact cardiovascular exercise which will enhance your cardiovascular health, in fact you will see many ballet dancers get their running training in as part of their cross training regime
• Does ballet need it? Yes to a certain degree but you don’t need it as much as a runner does…here’s why (see below)
• Does ballet develop it? Yes but with a pinch of salt, balletbefit will not get your heart rate as high as what you might get it during a run simply because the style of balletbefit I teach is all based around low impact cardiovascular work, having said that lower blood pressure and a slower resting heart rate are some of the key benefits you might experience, these benefits are key in improving overall heart health in particular for runners. 

• does running need it? It’s always best if a runner is a little flexible, it prevents soreness and reduces injury risks, plus it enables to stretch a little more deeply
• Does running develop it? oh no, how often do you meet a runner that tells you they are super flexible? 
• Does ballet need it? Yes
• Does ballet develop it? Yes, balletbefit truly promotes flexibility, all the sessions include warm up and cool down stretches which will enable you to develop flexibility (and am not talking about doing the splits here, but rather being able to touch your toes with your hands when you bend forward as this is a sign of healthy spinal flexibility)

• does running need it? yes, in fact strength comes before speed, so if your goal is to become faster then you will need to first become stronger
• Does running develop it? No, running utilises muscular strength only to convert it into power, it does not enable you to build muscular strength
• Does ballet need it? You don’t need to be strong to start balletbefit
• Does ballet develop it? But Balletbefit will make you stronger, as all our workouts include an element of strength

• does running need it? yes, if you want to go fast you need to be powerful to charge up those hills or chase down the finish line in the final .2 dash
• Does running develop it? Yes, to a certain degree you can develop a lot of power by doing intervals and tempo runs which are key running workouts in order to become a faster runner
• Does ballet need it? Yes, though in balletbefit we don’t do too much jumping as we like to keep it low impact
• Does ballet develop it? Yes, ballet can develop power but a 8x400m speed running workout combined with a 30’ balletbefit leg series will do the job just nice!

Does running need it? yes

Does running develop it? Yes

Does ballet need it? Yes

Does ballet develop it? yes