Published in Dance Spirit Magazine
More studio time = more improvement? Not always, according to Roman Zhurbin, American Ballet Theatre soloist and certified personal trainer. “It’s absolutely necessary to take rest days so your body can reset and you stay motivated,” says Zhurbin. “Seven days a week of hard training is just unhealthy.” What is healthy: letting your body recover from a jam-packed dance schedule so you can give your best possible performance.
A weekly rest day is even more essential if you’re still growing or under 15. “Growth plates are the part of your bone that literally lengthen to make you taller,” says Dr. Selina Shah, a sports and performing arts medicine specialist and the physician for San Francisco Ballet School and Diablo Ballet. “Time off without the stress of impact allows for normal growth without injuring those growth plates.” Even if you’re done growing, regular days off help prevent stress fractures and other overuse injuries.