Because I am not too old, and not too young, I sometimes think that I can eat whatever I want to, and push my body as hard as I can to improve my dancing. You are laughing, I know, because you have tried it too. A dancer's body is not the same at 17, as it is at 27, or 37... or 47! So what should I watch out for as I doggedly pursue dancing while the decades roll by?
Perhaps the biggest step towards maintaining a healthy body is simply to be aware. I need to remember that I am prone to less flexibility and more injury as I age. Making stretches a daily routine, and allowing time for warm-ups and cool-downs are no longer suggestions to be brushed aside-they are essential tools to prevent injury and make me limber.
When I over-indulge in refined sugars and carbs, I find it hard to get my body off the ground. Following an eating lifestyle that sticks to the food-guide pyramid jump starts my muscles and keeps my mind alert.
Break the cycle. When I maintain my body's health, I find myself in an upward spiral: eat healthy and practice dance=feel good and do my best=eat healthy and practice dance, etc. When I let things slide, I go downhill: lazy and indulgent=poor performance and little practice=lazy and indulgent, etc.
I'm going to do it. I'll stick to a practice schedule and eating routine, and make sure that I take my warm-ups seriously. After all, I want to be dancing when I'm 97, don't you?
