5 Exercises to Improve Your Leg Extensions and Leg Mounts
Every dancer loves a good leg ? But did you know you need strength as well as flexibility to correctly perform these movements?
Here are 5 tips that will help you to improve your leg mounts and leg extensions:
- Lunges: this strength exercise targets hip flexor strength and mobility. Your hip flexors are partly responsible for lifting your leg, so by strengthening them, you will find it easier to get your leg higher.
- Forward fold: this stretch will target your hamstring flexibility which is also necessary for leg extensions and leg holds. You may want to move slowly in and out of the shape to help achieve more elasticity in the muscles.
- Retiré: lift the leg up higher and extend and then lower back down to retire position – making sure both legs (supporting leg and working leg) are turned out. Repeat to build strength.
- Floor leg extension: practice your leg extension or leg mount laying on the floor. This way you can focus on stretching the muscles to improve flexibility without worrying about holding your leg in the air.
- Leg extensions/mounts at the barre: practise the action of your leg extension with one hand lightly resting on the barre to help you balance. Repeat the action of unfolding the leg as well as lowering it carefully down.
Tag us @dancefactor if you try out these exercises and send this post to your friends who would find this blog post helpful!
Happy leg mount-ing! Dance Factor is a Wollongong-based dance studio. We offer classes in ALL dance styles and cater to all ages and abilities.
If you are interested in enrolling or trialling a class obligation-free, contact info@dancefactor.com.au.