Lacking time and motivation

enpointe · 07-22-2009, 06:01 AM

I am 22 years old and doing my Major Ballet Examinations. But I seriously lack endurance and strength (especially core strength).

I know what I need to do to get stronger, but I'm just not doing it

I have ballet class 3-4 times a week, and I always go to that, but doing any other exercise just never seems to happen.

What has helped you to motivate yourself, especially when you have limited time, and no workout-buddy available (trust me, I've tried to find someone!)? I don't need to lose weight, so that's not motivation...

How can I start to increase my strength and endurance without getting overwhelmed and overloading my already very busy schedule?

**WildChild** · 07-22-2009, 07:55 AM

As a dancer, you are a trained athlete. My guess is that after all the years of training and you say you know what you have to do, for some reason you don't want this very much. If you really wanted it you'd do it, you'd find the time. Maybe it's time to look at your motivation? What's going on? Why did you get into ballet? Why have you continued? What drives you? Do you really want this, now? Or is it the left overs of a childhood desire that you've outgrown?

enpointe · 07-23-2009, 02:12 PM

Thank you for your reply. I realise I was not clear in my post - my apologies! I am not, and have no intention of being, a professional dancer. I just do ballet for fun. I did it for a long time when I was a child, then sadly gave up. I returned to ballet classes at the age of 20. It's interesting that you should bring up motivation...I have been asking myself that recently - why, when I love ballet so much, am I struggling to do what is necessary to be the best dancer I can be? You asked why I have continued with ballet - I love the movement, the grace, the structure. I feel great when I am dancing, and while I am dancing, I am completely there in the moment, wrapped up in what I'm doing. Today, after 2 hours of class, with sore feet and all (i'm busy breaking in new pointe shoes - not fun!), I realised that time had flown, and I had been so engrossed in the movement that I had thought of nothing else. So, why am I struggling with a lack of motivation to get stronger, by doing non-dancing exercise? Well, frankly, it's not as much fun! I already take the maximum number of ballet classes I can afford, so more ballet classes aren't an option right now, and I DO need to do some other stuff to work on weak areas. I think my biggest problem is that I am tired. I am a full-time student, I work part-time, and I'm married. I am usually out of the house from 6:15am until earliest 6pm, if I include ballet class. And then I need to eat, spend time with my husband, relax and do some reading for university. Weekends are obviously much more free! It just feels like I have all these things I need/have to do, and squishing in extra exercise (although I know it will feel good) just feels like it's WAY down on the to-do list. And trying to get my husband to exercise with me just doesn't work - he has knee problems and frankly he'd prefer to sit in front of the computer anyway. Any advice???

07-22-2009, 06:01 AM	#1
enpointe Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4	Lacking time and motivation I am 22 years old and doing my Major Ballet Examinations. But I seriously lack endurance and strength (especially core strength). I know what I need to do to get stronger, but I'm just not doing it I have ballet class 3-4 times a week, and I always go to that, but doing any other exercise just never seems to happen. What has helped you to motivate yourself, especially when you have limited time, and no workout-buddy available (trust me, I've tried to find someone!)? I don't need to lose weight, so that's not motivation... How can I start to increase my strength and endurance without getting overwhelmed and overloading my already very busy schedule?

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07-22-2009, 07:55 AM	#2
WildChild Gold Contributor 500+ Posts Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western USA Posts: 6,232 Blog Entries: 5	As a dancer, you are a trained athlete. My guess is that after all the years of training and you say you know what you have to do, for some reason you don't want this very much. If you really wanted it you'd do it, you'd find the time. Maybe it's time to look at your motivation? What's going on? Why did you get into ballet? Why have you continued? What drives you? Do you really want this, now? Or is it the left overs of a childhood desire that you've outgrown?

07-23-2009, 02:12 PM	#3
enpointe Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 4	Thank you for your reply. I realise I was not clear in my post - my apologies! I am not, and have no intention of being, a professional dancer. I just do ballet for fun. I did it for a long time when I was a child, then sadly gave up. I returned to ballet classes at the age of 20. It's interesting that you should bring up motivation...I have been asking myself that recently - why, when I love ballet so much, am I struggling to do what is necessary to be the best dancer I can be? You asked why I have continued with ballet - I love the movement, the grace, the structure. I feel great when I am dancing, and while I am dancing, I am completely there in the moment, wrapped up in what I'm doing. Today, after 2 hours of class, with sore feet and all (i'm busy breaking in new pointe shoes - not fun!), I realised that time had flown, and I had been so engrossed in the movement that I had thought of nothing else. So, why am I struggling with a lack of motivation to get stronger, by doing non-dancing exercise? Well, frankly, it's not as much fun! I already take the maximum number of ballet classes I can afford, so more ballet classes aren't an option right now, and I DO need to do some other stuff to work on weak areas. I think my biggest problem is that I am tired. I am a full-time student, I work part-time, and I'm married. I am usually out of the house from 6:15am until earliest 6pm, if I include ballet class. And then I need to eat, spend time with my husband, relax and do some reading for university. Weekends are obviously much more free! It just feels like I have all these things I need/have to do, and squishing in extra exercise (although I know it will feel good) just feels like it's WAY down on the to-do list. And trying to get my husband to exercise with me just doesn't work - he has knee problems and frankly he'd prefer to sit in front of the computer anyway. Any advice???