As a male dancer, being in good physical shape is part of your job. Who does not want a lean and muscular body?So, you probably put on great workout music and exercise to it daily. However, during regular exercising, you might be making some exercise blunders that could lead to serious long-term problems.
As a rule you should avoid over-exertion and stop before you get exhausted. It is important to prevent injuries that might stop you from dancing. Here are some other common fitness mistakes that you should avoid:
- Do not limit yourself to dance. Participate periodically in other sports like running, swimming and climbing. Not only will they expand your range of interests, they will supplement exercise and prevent your muscles from getting specialized. As a male dancer you need to work with all your muscles and other sports will help keep them in form.
- Do not over-stretch. Try to avoid this common fitness mistake by taking proper care while stretching. Male dancers tend to do static stretching exercises that are not good for the muscles. Instead of stretching and holding, you should while warming up. Also, basic yoga routines provide flexible positions and movements that stretch your muscles without exhausting them. Make sure you do not try any unnatural positions in your dance routine before you are ready.
- Do not spend too much on fitness. If you are a trainee male dancer, you may not have much money to spend on a personal trainer and gym membership. However, even if you cannot afford expensive classes, you can download exercise applications or buy some books. There are many excellent smartphone and tablet applications for all levels. These should help you stay fit at home or at the dance studio for a fraction of the price of regular methods.
- Do not overdo building and toning muscles. You may want ripped muscles but you cannot afford to over-work them. Exercise daily but workout different muscle groups only 2–3 days a week. Include high-protein foods in your diet to increase muscle growth. Also, avoid too much cardio while trying to build muscles. This is a common fitness mistake for male dancers and will burn the calories that you actually require for your goal.
- Stay away from steroids. You must have heard this from everyone, including fellow dancers and your trainer. Let’s just reiterate since it cannot be said enough. Not only are steroids illegal to use for improving your performance but they also have many negative side-effects. Anabolic steroids (or testosterone boosters) are the most dangerous. They contribute to tendon ruptures, decreased sperm count and uncontrollable mood swings. So do not be tempted by this shortcut.
Remember, exercise is only part of your overall fitness routine. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, like a balanced diet and good habits, to improve the way your body looks. Do not make common exercise mistakes while attempting to get and sustain an enviable male dancer body.