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7 Bad Dance Habits You Need To Break This 2019

05/16/2018

There are bad habits everyone has. However, as a dancer, your body is your most important asset. It's therefore vitally important that you take excellent care of it. If you don't, and continue on with such a habit, it can do more than make you look bad in those new harem dance pants. It can also have a big impact on what you get out of dance class, not to mention how well you perform on the stage.

So with that said, what are some bad dance habits you need to break permanently in 2019? Here's a look at 7 of them:

Bad dance habit #1: Not getting enough rest.

You work your body hard all day. That's why it's important that you get plenty of rest too. While exact number of hours you sleep each night certainly will vary depending on your unique body, aim to get at least eight hours.

Still not convinced you need to break your Netlifx binge-watching habit that keeps you up until 2 a.m.? Not getting enough sleep can actually make you gain weight. In fact, according to studies, lack of sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. So next time you're tempted to stay up and watch just one more show, shut your TV or tablet off and hit the hay instead. You're doing your body a big favor.

Bad dance habit #2: Not eating well.

Another area that's critically important in terms of your health is eating well. As a dancer, your body needs plenty of fuel not only for energy, but to restore and repair the bones, joints and muscles that take a regular beating throughout the day. Good nutrition helps to repair soft tissue and facilitates lean muscle growth so that your body can stay strong and healthy whether you're practicing in the studio or performing on the stage.

So even if you think your body can handle an array of junk foods during the day -- just because you're not gaining weight -- think again. This type of diet will eventually catch up with you, especially as you age. Not only that, but your body simply won't have the nutrients it needs to perform at its best. If you really want to take your performance to the next level, you therefore need to break your bad eating habits in 2019.

Bad dance habit #3: Skipping the warm up or cool down.

Your body is young and healthy. So you can jump right into class, right? Wrong. It's never a good idea to skip warm ups or cool downs even once. That's because once you start doing it occasionally, it's easy to become a habit. And once it is, it can actually put you at risk for an injury, taking you out of commission for a while. Warming up, on the other hand, increases your blood flow throughout your body and therefore makes your muscles more flexible. Likewise, cooling down after your practice or performance also gives your body -- and especially your heart -- the time it needs to cool down and return to normal activity.

Bad dance habit #4: Too much phone time.

You might not think that your phone has much to do with dance. But it can actually negatively affect your performance thanks to the toll is takes on your posture. Just think about the position you're in when you're texting. Your head is bent at a forward angle, while your shoulders are slumped. This puts a lot of pressure on your upper spine that can actually damage it in the long run.

Not only that, but when you're texting, it actually shortens your muscles in the front of your body, weakening them in the process. This impacts how you look on the stage and also does damage in the long-term, putting you at-risk for issues, like a herniated disk, soreness, and back and nerve problems. So if you love to text or are always on your laptop or tablet in between performances or practice times, make sure that you bring your phone or device to your face, rather than looking down at it.

Bad dance habit #5: A heavy dance bag.

As a dancer, you have loads of stuff to carry around on a regular basis. From all your dance gear, like leotards, harem dance pants, dance bra tops, and dance shoes, to your books, laptop and supplies you need to study in between classes, your bag can get pretty heavy. And when you carry it on one shoulder -- and always the same shoulder -- it puts your body at risk for a muscle imbalance. This can not only impact the quality of your performance, but how you look too. In fact, a muscle imbalance can make you appear uneven on the stage. That's why it's important to instead opt for a backpack style bag so the weight of it is evenly distributed.

Bad dance habit #6: Poor shoe choices.

When it comes to being a dancer, your feet need to be well protected, even when you're not actually dancing. That means making good choices about the shoes you wear. For instance, flip flops should be off your list. That's because the soles are paper thin and don't offer your precious feet the support they need to stay in great shape. They therefore put more pressure on your feet and ankles, damaging them in the process. So before you invest in a pair of shoes, examine them carefully for a strong arch and soles that don't fold too easily.

Bad dance habit #7: Not wearing dance apparel and dance bra tops that fit.

When it comes to performing your best, you need to do more than put in plenty of practice time. You also need to make sure you're wearing dance clothes and dance bra tops that fit. If you don't, they won't provide the support you need. Not only that, but you'll be distracted and uncomfortable, impacting your ability to stay focused and deliver the best performance possible.