by Caroline MacDonald

This time of year can be very busy for ballet dancers. Nutcracker is only months away, audition season is coming up, and school is in full swing. As a result, stress levels may reach a high. However, if you go into the coming months with some knowledge of how to handle the impending craziness you’ll be a lot more likely to enjoy yourself and stay stress-free. Here are some tips on keeping calm both in and outside of the studio.

Meditation: A very popular way to cope with stress, meditation helps to retrain your brain to cope with stress as well as reduce overall stress levels. Try taking a few minutes every day to simply focus on your breathing, let your thoughts wander, or simply clear all thoughts from your mind. Need a little extra help? Try downloading a meditation app that can help lead you through a guided meditation.

Exercise: Exercise releases endorphins, which improve your mood. It can also have a meditative effect, allowing you to focus on your activity instead of other preoccupations. Even if you’re dancing all day, try to incorporate some extra exercise into your day, such as cardio, yoga, or just a simple walk around the block. [Read more…]