Here at The Whole Dancer, the most popular program I offer is called The Dancer’s “Best Body” Program.

In the past, I’ve gotten some flack for the ways I’ve promoted or shared the details of this program. Some have criticized the terminology I’ve used or the way I’ve positioned it.

Let me be clear – I am an advocate for body positivity.

I’d love for you to be perfectly satisfied with your body, as it is, exactly in this moment.

However, I’m also a dancer so I know the difficulty you might be facing in that acceptance of yourself. I have been there big time. That’s why one of the number 1 goals of The Dancer’s Best Body Program is to support you in cultivating self-love wherever you are on your journey.

Miami City Ballet Dancer, Lauren Fadeley Veyette recently shared that even after years of success in dance she still struggles to remain body positive. She shared, “Staring at a mirror 6 hours a day can do numbers on how you perceive yourself, but I try to remember how fortunate I am that I have a strong body that enables me to dance and do what I love. With food, I try to think of it as the fuel needed to perform and how it makes my body feel.”

This program works to support you in practicing that positive mindset. You can also find the balanced relationship with food that Lauren works on herself.

When I say “best body” it’s about how you feel.

You might have goals to lose weight (or not). You might have goals to improve muscle tone (or not). This program can provide the tools to help you achieve those goals (or not). Maybe for you the work is all internal and has little to do with how you actually look. Instead, the work has to do with how you feel about how you look.

If you are struggling with body confidence because you’ve gotten feedback that you should “lose weight” or “tone up.” Or, if you’ve had that feedback delivered in a more aggressive way – jobs or scholarships threatened, The Dancer’s Best Body Program can support you in moving past that pain.

Bottom Line:

What “best body” means is entirely up to you. You get to define it. It doesn’t mean smaller or skinnier or disordered. It’s where you’re dancing your best, most confident, happiest and healthiest. So tell me in the comments (or send me an email), what does “best body” mean to YOU?

Photo by David Hofmann via Unsplash

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I am a very strong, positive person which is the only way I have gotten to where I am now. I have never been one of those dancers who gets things easily, and have fought HARD to finally land my first contract after 4 years of apprenticing.

That being said, hours and hours at the gym, arriving to the studio 1-2 hours before class to work out, and strict eating have not gotten me to where I want to be, at least not for long periods.”

Maybe you can relate to some of those struggles? This is what Margot shared before starting The Dancer’s Best Body Program.

“Before the program I felt stressed about making choices with food, especially getting back in shape after an injury. Every meal meant getting closer to or further from my goals. But it’s really not that simple!

Thinking that way caused a lot of stress over things that others wouldn’t put a second thought into. I felt like if I ever indulged or anything like “everyone else”, I wasn’t working hard or something.

Since participating in The Dancer’s Best Body Program, I feel  free to (and the desire to) make good choices that are going to positively affect my body and career, without the stress attached. That it’s okay to “get there” slowly (and trying to quick-fix things doesn’t last), and it’s okay (if not healthy!) to have a cocktail on the weekend or dessert on my birthday

I have also noticed significant positive changes in my mindset. I have become much more aware of my thoughts, and stresses of every day, whether positive or negative, and learned how to direct them towards a positive outcome.

This has affected my dancing greatly already, and my ability to get through class and rehearsal without feeling down on myself or with any disappointment in the day.

I’ve started to view each day as a step forward, no matter what the day holds. For this I have to completely credit Jess and The Dancer’s Best Body Program!”

Photos of Margot by Rachel Neville Photography

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