A Ballerina’s Journey Through Yoga

I began my dancing journey at the age of three, in all styles of dance. By age five, I was dancing competitively, and by  the age eight, I had fallen in love with classical ballet, and began focusing my training there.

I am incredibly fortunate to have parents who supported my passion, and wanted to give me the best opportunities in order to achieve my dream of dancing professionally. Unlike most professional ballet dancers, I did not attend a full time professional school, due to the length of my body, and my family wanting me to get the best education possible.

I was fortunate enough to attend one of the best all girls private schools in the world, giving me the mental balance that most dancers do not have. Classical ballet is the most mentally and physically challenging form of dance, as the competition and expectations are so high.

At age 17, I graduated high school a year early and was invited to train with one of the most sought after ballet dancers in the world, Gelsey Kirkland, in New York City. I trained six days a week for 10 hours a day at a very high level among other international dancers.

There, I was pushed to my limit, both mentally and physically, and developed severe arthritis in both knees. My body was not ready for that kind of training, but due to my willpower to train as hard as possible, I ended up with a lifelong injury.

I was forced to take one full year off of dancing, because of the cartilage being worn down, due to an extended period of time with my kneecaps not tracking correctly.

During this year, I was not able to do most physical things that I was used to, and I became desperate. I signed up for a gym membership with my Mum and began taking yoga classes; as it was a form of exercise with the least of amount of impact and pressure on my knees.

The first thing yoga taught me was patience with my mind and body during a difficult time. The second thing yoga taught me was to be kind to my body, and that there is a way to stay in shape without causing harm to my body. The third thing yoga taught me was balance; physically, mentally and in all aspects of life.

I am currently writing this from Goa, India! After discovering yoga, it became a dream of mine to go to India and have a real yogi experience.

I had fallen in love with yoga and wanted to share this positive lifestyle, especially with other dancers, but also with everyone. This brings me to why I am at a teacher training course. The experience here has taught me so much about myself. I have had teachers push me to do things I thought were definitely way past my limitations, and the feeling is so liberating.

I no longer think of my knees as a hindrance. Being in India has taught me that anything is possible with the right mental state. The first week here, i felt as though I was just too weak, and my body was flexible in all of the wrong ways. I am now finished my second week, and the amount of strength I have gained is surprising. I have two teachers here who were dancers, and feel like my personal gurus. They make me feel like I am capable of anything.

I am excited to see the benefits of my strength from yoga translate into my dancing. I have had zero knee pain since committing myself to yoga, and my whole body in general is more balanced. Ballet is completely unnatural for the body, and thus can cause sever imbalances.

I truly believe yoga is for everyone, but so important for ballet dancers in particular.

Not only are there so many physical benefits from yoga to balance the body, the mental and spiritual side is extremely important for an athlete that it is under such high physical and mental stress.

It is so important to be able to escape for even just a moment and calm the soul in order to perform your best. I personally say “OM” every single time before I step on stage. The deep breathing and vibration from saying “OM” completely calms me and has never failed me during performance.

Since being in India, I have learned an incredible amount about the mind and breath, and am feeling more centred than I ever have in my entire life.

I am also very fortunate to have my Mother here in India on this journey with me! We are both having an unforgettable and life changing experience that I am ecstatic to bring home and share with other dancers, and maybe change somebody else’s life.