Targets!!!

Target 1: Flexibility

Stretching before and after class will enable your muscles and ligaments to become used to being stretched over their present capacity. It is better to stretch in a warm environment, this will help your muscles to heat up quicker which will make it easier to stretch and it will be a lot less painful. Whereas if you are in a cold environment it would take longer for your muscles to warm up and you're more likely to cause injuries this way. Cooling down is just as important as warming up. If you did not cool down, your muscles will seize up and tighten this can lead to serious damage to the muscles.

Target 2: Strength

I want to improve my core strength and I can do this by doing many different abdominal exercises in my spare time. I should aim to do about several different exercises in a week for a decent amount of time. I need to make sure I do these exercises properly for example The Plank. In the Plank pose, I need to make sure that my body is parallel to the floor, and that my lower back is not arched and that it is my core that is focal point of this  pose. It is very easy to put strain on the lower back to compensate for a weak core.I could also do 50 crunches in the morning and 50 crunches in the afternoon.             

Target 3:Extension

I would like to improve and develop my extension,especially in my legs. If I am not focused on the extension of my legs, they tend to look like they are ever so slightly bent if I am not careful. I think that this is a common problem for dancers that have no hyper extension in the leg whatsoever.  The way for me to improve this is to attend more Ballet classes. In Ballet, almost all of the exercises at the Barre and the Centre are focused on extension. Also I could do extra leg lengthening exercises at home, such as Tendus, rond de jambe terre, fondus and developpes.