Bend Your Leg

In a ballet class, you perform exercises at the barre to help strengthen your leg muscles. However, there may be times when working out at a barre is not possible. Maybe you can't make it to the studio for some reason, or perhaps you are suffering from a foot or leg injury. For times like these, there are exercises you can do on the floor, without the use of a barre. Try the following exercises to help strengthen your leg muscles.

• Lie on your back with your arms extended out to the sides with palms up.

• Bend your right knee and point you toes.

• Slowly extend your right leg toward the ceiling.
• Support your lower back with your abdominal muscles.
• Concentrate on holding your hips still and straight.
• Try to straighten your knee with your leg perpendicular to the floor.

• Flex your right foot as far as you can.
• Rotate your leg out from your hip.
• For added difficulty and more strengthening, lower your right leg down to the floor, then pull it up again.