Kelly Ripa, Natalie Portman, and Drew Barrymore all swear by ballet-inspired exercise methods that promise longer, leaner muscles and a tighter derriere in weeks. But how do these low-impact dance moves build muscle and burn calories when there's not hardcore cardio or heavy weights involved?
Cindy Sites, founder of The Figure Method, a ballet-focused exercise technique, explains that the approach is incredibly effective in toning, strengthening and conditioning the entire body. She says, "Muscle groups are strengthened through slow, sustained, precise movements followed by intense stretching to avoid building bulk. The method is particularly effective because almost all of the exercises require balance – which means your core will always be working to support your body and protect your back during each exercise. Additionally, the majority of the exercises require holding a pose for an extended period of time to the point of exhaustion. This enables the muscles to elongate through full extension while also improving endurance."
The concept of ballet-inspired exercise was originated by Lotte Berk, a former dancer who based her exercise technique on the core strength and flexibility moves that are essential to dancer's lithe frames. The method gained popularity with dancers in the US, including Sites, who began practicing and teaching the method before developing her own style. Sites branded approach, The Figure Method, refined the barre method to include safer orthopedic-based exercises and form modifications to protect joints and produce dramatically effective results.
"My clients tell me that after taking our classes, they feel more energetic, stronger, their clothes fit better, and, when they leave our studio, they literally feel inches taller. That's the benefit of the Figure Method," Sites explains.
While ballet-inspired exercise methods are effective on their own, many athletes are using barre-based exercise to compliment their rigorous workouts. Marathoners, tri-athletes, and spinning aficionados are benefiting from The Figure Method. In fact, Joyride, the spinning Mecca in Westport, houses a Figure Method studio. "Athletes find that they are able to target the smaller, often overlooked muscles with The Figure Method. They are seeing improved performance and endurance," says Sites.
Page Knox, a devotee of Sites' Figure Method, says, "I can't live without my barre classes. Three classes a week give me the strength to pursue my passions for skiing and tennis and the peace of mind to handle my crazy schedule."
Go Figure studios can be found throughout Fairfield County (Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, and Westport); in Westchester (Armonk, Rye); Nantucket, Massachusetts; Palm Beach, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Potomac, Maryland.
For more information, visit: www.gofigurestudio.com
Cindy Sites has been a fitness professional for more than twenty years and has taught The Figure Method barre to thousands of students and instructors. For over twenty years she served as trustee at American Ballet Theatre, was on the Board of the School of American Ballet and had the honor of being appointed to The President's Committee of the Arts and Humanities by President George Bush. Developing The Figure Method and overseeing Go Figure Barre Studios has been one of the most positive, and rewarding experiences of her life.