A great advise to all women from the Oscar winner and one of the most talented American actress.
A couple of weeks ago at Indiana University, where Meryl accepted an honorary doctoral degree, the three-time Academy Award winner answered questions about her life and career. When someone asked her for her advice to aspiring performers, she said, "For young women, I would say don't worry so much about your weight. Girls spend way too much time thinking about that, and there are better things. For young men, and women, too, what makes you different or weird—that's your strength. Everyone tries to look a cookie-cutter kind of way, and actually the people who look different are the ones who get picked up. I used to hate my nose. Now I don't. It's OK."
So be unique in your own way is the best way to be beautiful, healthy and successful. Next time you feel pressure to conform to some cultural standard of beauty that doesn't reflect who you are or what a normal, healthy female body looks like, remember Meryl's sound advice.
If you're stuck in a self-esteem hole and can't seem to deflect negative self-talk, try joining our program and learn more about self expression, confidence and get those desired results in fitness & well-being. So you start feeling great, appreciate and enjoy who you really are.
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Eating
well helps you function at your peak, mentally and physically, and these foods
are full of nutrients that help your body bounce back from the biological
effects of stress. What better way to spoil yourself?
Dark Chocolate
This go-to mood booster has more polyphenols than some fruit juices and has been known to lower blood pressure. A one-ounce square is the perfect portion.
Papaya
With vitamins A, C, and E, this tropical fruit is good for your skin, eyes, heart, and immune system. Try it fresh or, in small amounts, dried, to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Rosemary
Whether used topically or to season foods, the fragrant oil stimulates circulation and acts as an anti-irritant. Plus, this herb is a proven memory booster.
Flaxseed
Ground flax (easier to digest than whole seeds) is a dynamite source of lignans, plant estrogens that may soothe monthly mood swings and help prevent overeating.
Orange
This segmented citrus fruit is a powerhouse of vitamin C, an antioxidant that has been shown to help people recover more quickly from stress.
Celery
Crunching a stalk is stress-busting in itself, but celery also contains a chemical that lowers the concentration of stress hormones in the blood, relaxing constricted vessels.
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So, why is ballet so good for us?
It gets lots of little-used muscles working and improves posture, so can strengthen sore backs and joints.
It could help balance problems, chronic dizziness and may even stave off memory loss. Some experts consider dance a useful method for managing degenerative conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's.
One of ballet's core ideas is alignment - keeping the head, shoulders and hips perfectly balanced and in line at all times, whether standing still or halfway through a pirouette.
'Ballet improves posture, and builds strength and flexibility at the same time,' says chartered physio-therapist Sammy Margo.
Unlike jogging, where you're moving in the same way all the time, ballet gives you a variety of movement. You're moving joints and muscles in different directions and in ways you might not normally work them.
It's lower impact than aerobics, but could still burn at the minimum of 250 calories an hour, depending on your aspirations and chosen training class.
'Dancing makes the brain more efficient at balancing,' says consultant neurologist Dr Barry Seemungal. 'The change was more pronounced in the dancers who practised the most - it's not something they're born with.' The researchers are hoping to develop a dance-based therapy for dizziness.Another benefit of ballet is that its steps may be easier for beginners to remember. This is because the movements have names that the teacher will call out.
Professor Ruth Day, a cognitive scientist at Duke University, found that when beginner and intermediate dancers listened to the names of movements as they tried to learn a new sequence, their recall of the routine was 15 to 30 per cent better than without spoken cues.
What's more, a two-decade long study on the effects of leisure activities and mental acuity as we age, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found dance was the only physical activity linked with a lower risk of dementia (along with non-physical activities, such as reading and doing the crossword). The explanation offered by neurologists is that dance is a complex activity for our brain, working different neural pathways.This could be because it combines physical activity with cognitive stimulation - in order to recall a sequence of steps, for example - and also has a social component.
And then there are the psychological benefits.
'The combination of music and movement can play a crucial role in bringing people into the present, away from confusion and low mood - an issue in Parkinson's and dementia,' says Daphne Cushnie, a neurological physiotherapist.
'It's a social activity, which can help combat the isolation people with these conditions can feel.'
But with these considerations, there's no reason ballet why couldn't be a step towards better health.
So, no matter what is your age, fitness level or physical structure exercising ballet can be a great benefit not just for your fitness level r weight loss and also for your heath, redefining your wellbeing.
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One of the top questions from the ladies that like to keep fit : "What to eat as a post-gym snack, also, what about when you leave a workout and it's dinnertime?"
The expert: Janet Brill, R.D., director of nutrition is sharing her knowledge.
The answer: Just as with your post-workouts snacks, you're going to want to make sure your post-workout meal contains both complex carbs and lean protein, says Brill. This combination helps foster muscle recovery, which is a primary concern after the exercise.
Of course, you can consume protein and carbs without having a full meal—so Brill suggests adding fruits or veggies for extra nutrition. Some of Brill's favorite options that satisfy all of the above requirements: a rice or quinoa bowl with beans, salsa, avocado, and whole-wheat tortilla chips; a whole-wheat turkey-and-veggie pita with a side of pretzels and chocolate milk; or a big salad packed with spinach, beans, tofu, and a vinaigrette dressing.
One last thing: While you may be tempted to indulge in something not-so-healthy post-workout, just keep in mind that people tend to overestimate the calories they burn—so if you're trying to lose weight (or even just maintain your current weight), you won't want to overdo it at your post-workout meal.
Even if you had your best workout, don't forget that body recovery is just as important.
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For years, celebrities have followed the ballet workouts' abilities to sculpture long and lean physiques, graceful posture and elegant appearance.
Natalie Portman made a great impact on the perception of the ballet training and what can be achieve with dedication, as well as great results on the body.
Here are some well known ladies that shaped and sculptures their bodies using Ballet techniques:
Audrey Hepburn studied under one of the leading figures of Dutch ballet, her beautiful posture and body line we could appreciate in many movies.
Diane Kruger attended the Royal Ballet School in London, before moving on to the acting career.
Charlize Theron studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Remaining really elegant throughout her acting career.
Sarah Jessica Parker studied and danced at the American Ballet Theater in the ’70s. Before she was Carrie Bradshaw of SATC, she was Janey Glenn of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
Naomi Campbell enrolled at the age of 10 at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts for ballet to follow in her dancer mother’s footsteps, before gracefully moving on with the modelling.
Kim Basinger started dancing at age three before pursuing beauty pageants and acting.
Brigitte Bardot was schooled for three years at the Paris Conservatory before winning a modeling contest and going into acting.
Penelope Cruz studied ballet at Spain’s National Conservatory for nine years which help her to retain lovely elegance and beautiful figure.
Madonna had a dance scholarship at the University of Michigan that had an effect on developing her fit & graceful body line as well as artistry.
So if you still wonder about the benefits of great positive effects of the ballet based training, there are some obvious results that we all admire.
To join ballet workouts and programs with Ballet Body Sculpture you don't need any previous ballet experience. And if you ever had a dream as a little girl doing a few "pas" and feeling really graceful, here is your chance to dip in and start enjoying the wonderful world of ballet, self expression and elegant escape from your dally routine.
Our classes are now available in Zurich and London, soon are coming to the other locations too.
To join our classes : www.balletbodysculpture.com
