…text in this article I’m reposting from Self Magazine. Self’s final print edition will be Feb/2017.
Ballerina Misty Copeland spends hours every day dancing and training to make sure she’s performance-ready. SELF’s December cover girl…..
……who is the first African-American female principal dancer at American Ballet Theater (ABT), has picked up a few tricks over the years to keep herself happy and healthy.
In her cover story interview, 34-year-old Copeland disclosed her super intense schedule. “From 10:15 to 11:45 every morning is ballet class,” she said.
“Then we rehearse from noon to seven, sometimes with a lunch break, sometimes not.” At night she performs with the ABT.
Mondays are technically her day off, but she often has sponsor events to attend. So, how does she cope with such a gruelling schedule?
Previously, Copeland told SELF that she focuses on staying hydrated and fueling up with
healthy food.
She also prioritizes making sure she gets enough rest. “Sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleep,” she said.
“I’m really boring. I feel like I just kind of veg out on the couch when I get home, because I just need to not think. But sleep is so important for me.”
She also carves out time for her mental health. While she doesn’t typically have the time to sit down and meditate in the traditional sense……
……she centers herself while on the go, and recommends “finding moments in the day that are for yourself.”
Here are Misty Copeland’s five top tricks….
……for staying as healthy as possible, and how you can incorporate her advice into your own life.
1. She gets in the zone. Misty says: “Before every performance I take a moment to myself. Being able to visualize the best way to do something keeps me calm and prepared.”
How you can do the same: Try starting your day with a quick meditation. Stay calm by stealing some self-care tips that celebs swear by, or checking out this list of 101 ways to de-stress.
2. She sticks to a routine. Misty says: “Even if I’m off from rehearsal, I try to be in ballet class every day, sometimes twice a day. When I’m not dancing, I take pilates or gyrotonics.”
How you can do the same: Need a new workout routine? We got you. But remember that the key to success is consistency, no matter what your end goal is.
3. She eats well. Misty says: “It’s not about dieting or depriving. I create healthy versions of my favorite foods. Last night I made baked salmon with a Sriracha marinade and quinoa.”
How you can do the same: Make sure you’re fueling yourself properly. Read up on the best protein sources, know what healthy eating myths to avoid, and definitely don’t skip any meals. Oh, and try to ditch the food guilt, too.
4. She hydrates. Misty says: “Most people don’t drink enough fluids. I mix Pedialyte with water. It’s a quick way to hydrate when you’re sweating a lot.”
How you can do the same: Learn how much water you should actually be drinking every day, and educate yourself on the signs of dehydration.
5. She really loves ballet. Misty says: “It works every single part of you and builds a long, lean body. It targets the big muscles and the little ones that support them, too. Just go to ballet class, everybody!”
How you can do the same: Channel your inner Misty with a ballet class or dance cardio workout. If choreography kind of scares you, try barre or pilates.
Misty By The Numbers
7–9 Hours Misty dances every day
50 Leotards in her closet
200 Bobby pins used in a week
2 Liters of water she drinks per day
10 Pairs of pointe shoes worn per week
[below] Thanks to the power of Video Editing, I cut a version of the song “The Lady in my Life”, which features a performance by Misty Copeland ENJOY!!!
More info on Misty Copeland on her Official Website
Misty now has a self designed clothing line of UnderArmour Female Fitness Apparel
More Misty on my Website!!!!
“Ballet, Something Pure in this Crazy World” –Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland, “Its Time” !!!
My “Body Series” slideshow featuring Misty Copeland….MORE GREAT MISTY PICS!!!!
article text and some photos from the Dec/2016 issue of Self Magazine
you might also like…….
Under Armour “I Will What I What”
(…Professional Tennis Player Sloane Stephens)
ESPN “BODY” Issue 2016
(….behind the scenes with Olympic fencer Nzingha Prescod)
“Ballet, something Pure in this Crazy World”
— Misty Copeland
click here or photo below for
all my articles in “Girl Talk”
Copyright Disclaimer: Right to use photos claimed under: Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
5 Responses
Man Do Eye love Your Articles..,,
I appreciate your blog and the compilation of articles. They all are so inspiring and to the point- to the point of soul searching! 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Omi,
To the point of “Soul Searching”? Wow, I didn’t know I had it like that!!!
Just kidding, it’s just a passion and a fun challenge to put out important wellness info for the social media masses and make it digestible, fun, and entertaining to them, especially since there is so much other stuff to compete with on the internet for their attention.
I’m not for profit, and comments like this come in once every month or two, and they are my only payment, I must admit it is still a thrill to get these accolades!!!
So, the site is, in a nutshell, my mind laid out on “Cyber Canvas”. That’s why you run across so many beautiful women over my site, maybe too many, but that’s my mind LOL!!!
Thanks for reading and commenting…
Doug at GAIA Health Blog
“If love can e’er a loving one inspire,
Most lovingly it gave me now its fire…”
Hi Ron,
Well Said, Well Said….
Misty’s articles on my website are the only ones that when I go back to, they still feel intoxicating and surreal. I never get tired of looking at my own photos of Misty
Thanks for reading and commenting….
Doug at GAIA Health Blog