What You'll Learn
- Techniques to release tension in the hip flexors and glutes using floor support
- Deep breathing exercises to expand the ribs and calm the nervous system for better flexibility
- Gentle movements in passé and hip rocking to improve lower body mobility
- How to use gravity and the floor to facilitate deeper muscle relaxation without strain
About This Video
Welcome to a dedicated session for recovery and body awareness at Broche Ballet. This gentle stretching class is designed to help you release deep-seated tension and improve your overall flexibility through mindful movement and beautiful music. Unlike a rigorous barre session, this practice focuses on letting the floor support you, allowing your muscles to truly relax and lengthen. This approach is essential for dancers who want to maintain longevity and prevent injury by balancing hard work with restorative care.
The class begins with gentle floor movements focused on your lower body. We target key areas for dancers, including the hip, leg, and glutes. By bringing the leg into a passé position or hugging the knee to the chest, we perform a self-massage for the hip flexors. One of the core principles of this session is using the floor to do the work; rather than forcing a stretch, we encourage you to let go and release tension in the front of the leg and the quad. This passive stretching technique allows the fascia to hydrate and the muscles to reset.
Breathing plays a pivotal role in our approach. You will learn to breathe deeply into the sides of your body, opening and expanding the ribs and centering your focus. This rhythmic breath acts as a signal to your nervous system that it is safe to relax, facilitating a deeper release in the muscles that often stay gripped during technical work. We also explore small, controlled movements like rocking the hips over toward the leg you are holding to gently increase the intensity of a stretch without causing strain.
Whether you are recovering from a difficult pointe class or simply need a moment of calm in your day, these yoga and Pilates-inspired movements provide a restorative experience. By the end of the session, you will feel a greater sense of alignment and a profound release of tension throughout your body. Join us on the mat and rediscover the importance of soft, restorative movement in your ballet journey.
