Namita Nayyar:
Apart from practicing ballet everyday, what other forms of exercise or cross-training you must do as a ballet dancer?
Maria Khoreva:
We have to develop strength in different groups of muscles otherwise the overuse of particular group can cause an injury. So every day before the work I do a light pilates workout for my abs, obliques, back and legs just to tone and warm-up. Also I love cardio or HIIT workouts that target different muscles than I use in ballet training and build endurance.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you need to follow a strict diet or eat everything in moderation? What are your favourite dinner meals?
Maria Khoreva:
There’s a myth that ballet dancers are not allowed to eat almost at all but that’s not true. We have to eat like professional athletes in order to be able to rehearse and perform effectively. My favorite dinner meal is a seasonal salad + salmon baked in the oven + steamed vegetables (carrot, green beans, broccoli, brussels sprouts). And I cannot imagine my life without sweets and I eat quite a lot of them. It sounds funny, but for me they lift up the mood of the day!
Namita Nayyar:
5 exercises that are a must for toning your leg muscles and to enhance balance.
Maria Khoreva:
- Hip raises lying on your back with both feet on the floor then with one foot straight up
- Side leg raises and pulses
- In a full plank position raising opposite hand and leg at the same time
- Reverse leg raises and pulses standing on your knees and forearms (starting with the slow motion and increasing the speed)
- Balancing on an unstable surface (it can be a special balancing board or just a stack of towels or pillows) – just standing on one leg and trying to maintain your balance is one of the most helpful exercises for strength and stability.
Namita Nayyar:
How would you define Women Fitness?
Maria Khoreva:
Women fitness is for harmony between us and the world around. It allows us to express ourselves the way we would like to and to fully exist with no restrictions. It is just one more step towards the general happiness we all aim at so much!
