Dancer’s bodies are typically long, lean, and strong. Many people envy the physique but don’t actually realize that they can get a similar shape. While dance is one of the best ways to stay in shape, lots of professionals supplement dance classes with workouts and healthy eating habits. I’ve made a guide full of all my best tips and tricks to how you can get a dancer’s body – enjoy!

1. Eat Often: Snacking keeps my metabolism going even when I’m not dancing or exercising. Rice cakes with peanut butter, fruit or a homemade protein shake, which keeps my energy pumping. Always have a healthy snack in your bag, like an apple, some nuts or a granola bar. If you let your blood sugar get too low, you’ll be so hungry that you’ll reach for whatever is near—which might not be a healthy option.

2. Don’t skip breakfast! Breakfast is a really important part of the day. If you don’t have breakfast, you might eat too much later on. My morning choices are fruit, almonds, veggies (veggie juice is a great option) and eggs (preferably egg whites).

3. Start doing Pilates. Pilates develops long, lean muscles in the arms, legs, and glutes. Doing Pilates on a regular basis will help you get the kind of shape and strength you’re after. It will also increase your flexibility, so that you can move as fluidly as someone who dances, as well.

4. Do 30 minutes to an hour of cardio every day. In order to get into this kind of shape, you need to be at a healthy bodyweight. If you aren’t already there, regular cardio can help. Even if you are at a healthy bodyweight, cardio is good for your heart and will help you maintain a lean composition.

5. Make sure that your diet is healthy. Make sure that the majority of your diet consists of fresh and raw foods and whole grains. Avoid eating things that come from a package as often as possible as they are usually empty calories (at best) and packed to the brim with sodium, which leads to bloat.

6. Strength train. If you want to be lean and toned, strength training should be on your radar. Women can physically not “bulk up” unless they are one a very strict body builder diet and lift very, very heavy! If you want to stay very lean, use light weights and high repetitions. For example, you should use a weight that is light enough that it’s hard to complete the exercise by repetition number 18-20, instead of 8-15, such as when you are trying to build strength. Keep in mind though, that lifting heavy has a longer lasting benefit in terms of helping you stay lean. I personally lift weights 3-4 days a week, and it makes me tighter and slimmer than any type of cardio training!

xoxo Charlotte