The Importance of Cross Training | Pro Tip from Cecilia Iliesiu

Our current School of Ballet 5:8 Featured Guest, Cecilia Iliesiu, is a soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Learn from Cecilia how a professional dancer thinks, trains, and stays motivated. Read about Cecilia's favorite form of cross training.

Ceclia says:

Yoga is my favorite cross training. I find that yoga helps me center my mental and physical self. I used to take hot vinyasa flows at local yoga studios, but now I am really enjoying taking live yoga classes at home. It is the best way for me to start my day. I love all the one leg poses to maintain my ankle strength.

Note from School of Ballet 5:8:

Yoga is just one of many beneficial forms of cross training for dancers! Others we often recommend with the help of a certified instructor include Pilates Progressing Ballet Technique, and Bosu.

It is helpful to note that yoga has its background in certain spiritual traditions including Hinduism. Because of this, some dancers may choose to avoid the practice all together. Other dancers find that the physical elements of yoga, just like any other cross training or exercise program, are beneficial and can be used in a helpful way separately from the spiritual elements related to the origins of the practice. If you are a younger dancer, we recommend seeking the advice of your parent or a adult you trust before participating in yoga. If you are comfortable participating in yoga, you can also look for an instructor or studio that has a philosophy you agree with in terms of their approach to the spiritual elements of yoga, or seek out a certified Christian Yoga instructor.