Get Your Healthy On!
ATTENTION: It’s attack of the flu season and time to start taking precautions! As dancers it is easy for us to transmit the flu from one person to another because of the close proximity we are in for hours upon hours. At the studio students and teachers are touching the bars, sharing toilet seats, dancing on the floor in bare feet, partner stretching, etc… All these actions are examples of how a dancer can catch the flu or any other infection.
Missing class or rehearsal is the last thing anyone wants to do, so here are some tips to avoid all the phlegm, snot, diarrhea and grossness.
Wash your hands! Washing your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds (that’s about as long as the chorus from “Royals” by Lorde sung 1.5 times) after class, using the restroom, before/after eating, and after sneezing or coughing is the number one way to prevent the spread of illness. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It is not as effective as soap and water but at least it helps, and you can get cute little carriers for travel size bottles.
Avoid touching your face, especially if you don’t wash your hands.
Drink plenty of water and eat nutrient rich foods, yummy!
Avoid close contact with people who are sick around you. Do not share water bottles, food, or clothing.
Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow while sneezing or coughing (then wash your hands!)
Wash ballet barres after each class with a cleaning wipe.
Shower daily
Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each. Don’t forget to floss!
If you are sick and contagious do other the courtesy of others and stay home for 24 hours. Don’t forget to let the studio know why you won’t be attending class. Most likely they will be grateful that you are taking the precaution.
This probably isn’t the first time you have seen this list and it won’t be the last. It is easy for us to toss aside these tips and think it’s dumb, but think about yourself and others. Do you want to be the person responsible for making your friends miss class? Take this opportunity to lead by example.
*This is not a guarantee for not getting sick, these are helpful tips that will help with prevention.
Stay Healthy This Season :)
Jacque Lannoye
Former Allegro Instructor
www.allegrodance.com
