Meditation is a tool that trains attention and awareness, improving mental clarity and ultimately helping dancers (and teachers!) get out of their heads and into the moment. But doing meditation right goes way beyond the typical sitting and chanting. Though an “om” every now and then doesn’t hurt, there are numerous other ways to tap […]
Dance teachers are just as apt to fall into the trap of perfectionism and self-criticism as the students they teach. The high-pressure environment that is the dance world today makes it difficult to endure while keeping a healthy perspective on who we truly are. To help you quiet your inner critic, and by extension set […]
You know that feeling you get right before the curtain goes up—palms sweating and your heart pounding? Stress often accompanies performance, but it needn’t be debilitating. In a recent study, mindfulness meditation—actively tuning in to the body and breath in a still position—proved helpful in reducing stress reactions in athletes. Scientists measured the stress levels […]
You know the scene—you’re running out the door, so you grab a snack for the road. According to new research, however, eating on the run may not be the best idea. In a recent study, test subjects who snacked while walking were more likely to eat more food later on than those who snacked while […]
Despite his busy schedule as principal dancer at the Colorado Ballet, Domenico Luciano makes time to meditate. “It’s part of my routine, my cross-training, my lifestyle,” he says. He first began meditating in yoga class on the weekends, doing a series of breathing exercises after the last poses of class. “It made me feel calm, […]