By Adam Dyer, Assistant Professor of Dance at BYU, Former Spider-Man Aerialist on Broadway
PROVO, UTAH – I am absolutely loving the challenge of staying in shape without access to my normal workout resources: a gym, high-tech equipment, joining other people for playing sports, engaging in dance classes, etc. Each day has been an adventure in trying to move in new ways that challenge my body! I not only want to stay in shape, but I want to help students and others to find new inspiration and possibilities for when classes and choreography projects resume.
My 3 tips for improving your physicality during these unique circumstances:
- Don’t wait to be inspired, just start moving…and do it everyday!
- Be creative, we make physical progress when we constantly change things up! Never let your body know what’s coming next! 😊
- Use your current location to your advantage!
Resources:
I would recommend an inexpensive textbook/workbook that Dance 230 students have been digging into the past 2 semesters. It’s called Jump Attack by Tim Grover.
Tim trained Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and other world class athletes. He’s written this workout plan for athletes. I’ve found it extremely relevant to cross training dancers, gymnasts and acrobats and it follows a scientifically proven training methodology. It can also be executed with slight modifications in a small living space, using chairs, stairs, etc. and using gallon water jugs or sandbags for weights. 😊
It’s more comprehensive and educational than following celebrity trainers on Instagram, although with the COVID-19 situation many excellent online trainers are sharing their ideas and workout plans for free. So look around and just get moving! I’ve found inspiration comes when we start moving. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike or you’ll be sitting down all day. 😊
My Personal Movement Experience:
My own movement practice has been a mixture of the following: jumping on the trampoline with my kids, juggling the soccer ball, giving myself improv and technique classes to new Pandora music stations, Yoga & stretch sessions, sprint/interval training in the streets around my house, explosive jump training in my backyard, push-up and handstand contests with myself to set personal bests and to really push myself. I’ve also been setting a timer and seeing if I can hold a pull-up position off my deck for 30, 60 and 90 seconds. To be honest, I’m shaking like a leaf after 30 seconds, but those other time units are my goal for the coming weeks. I’m always seeking to confuse my muscles and brain in a healthy way. This way my body can’t conserve energy or just go on autopilot in a workout. I feel like I demand my body, spirit and mind to be present. That way if I don’t have a lot of time or space, I can get the most out of my movement exploration for the day!
Adam Dyer is an assistant professor of dance at BYU and a passionate life-long learner. He holds a BFA from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater/Fordham University and an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a concentration in Dance and New Media. He can be reached at adam_dyer@byu.edu or adamraydyer.com.