reducing muscle size?

[Guest crayonsdeluxe]

I used to take gymnastics and tae kwon do as well as ballet and now my thighs are VERY muscular, especially in the quad area. is there any way i can reduce the muscle bulk?

[DewDropFairy]

Hi,

 

If you have a lot of built up quad muscles Pilates would be a great way to make them longer and leaner. There are many pilates videos and classes. Good luck!

[Victoria Leigh]

Sometimes muscle build is genetic, other times it can be caused by working incorrectly in ballet, or by other forms of exercise. When the cause is taken away, if the situation is not genetic, it's possible that the muscles will lengthen with proper training. Ballet taught correctly does not produce over developed muscles. And yes, Pilates might help and is worth trying.

 

Hello DewDropFairy, and welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers. Here on the Young Dancers forum we do ask that the students not give advice, as that is what the teacher/moderators are here for. After a moderator has responded, then anecdotal information may be added, but not advice. Thank you

[Belle of the ballet #1]

my teacher has never commented on me working incorrectly, and she is quite a well respected teacher, but my quads seem to be fairly bulky, and even more difined lately.

what are the possible causes of this that my teacher may have missed?

maybe if i know what to look out for i might be able to work out if it's something i'm doing.

we seem to have been doing a lot more adage lately compared to what we used to (simply due to the increase of excercises in the syllabus) could it maybe be something i'm doing in the adage?

 

thanks,

luv belle

[vrsfanatic]

It is very difficult to say without seeing you and watching how you work what the reasons may be for your muscle development. As Ms. Leigh has stated, it may be hereditary. There most likely is not one definitive answer. I suggest you speak with your parents and your ballet teacher for more precise information.

[Guest crayonsdeluxe]

Sometimes muscle build is genetic, other times it can be caused by working incorrectly in ballet, or by other forms of exercise. When the cause is taken away, if the situation is not genetic, it's possible that the muscles will lengthen with proper training. Ballet taught correctly does not produce over developed muscles. And yes, Pilates might help and is worth trying.

 

 

thanks!

Edited March 12, 2006 by crayonsdeluxe

[Belle of the ballet #1]

i thought that might be the case, i'll have a chat to my ballet teacher next time i'm in.

[Tamara Watts]

if your going to do pilates, you need core and leg strength. i tried it once and i was sore for a week! it's really hard!

[Victoria Leigh]

Tamara, one DOES Pilates in order to improve core and leg strength!

[Alessandra]

I tend to be on the "bulky" side as well. I stretch a lot, as well as do pilates (sp?). My body has improved since I started focusing on building long lean muscles, but I think that I will always be more built than I would like.

[tantalus]

How do you know that your quads are too bulky?

[Tamara Watts]

I think that is a question for the medical staff people. : )