The image of a pregnant woman embracing her figure and really putting it out there can be scary to some people, but I don't let that stand in my way, and I don't think other women should either.
— Mary Helen Bowers
Ballet Beautiful has made my pregnancy a joy. I've avoided back pain and swelling by keeping my core strong and body moving.
It definitely wasn't cool in junior high, when everyone else is trying out for cheerleading, to have a life consumed by ballet.
A lot of people think the body is just about genetics, but the right approach can change its shape.
Rather than thinking about what not to eat, I like to focus on what I can eat to look and feel my best.
When you dance, you engage your abs in every step.
On weekends, I do brunch at home: whole grain bagels, lox, avocado, eggs, and organic bacon.
I find that the thing that makes every body look the best is great toning, and really, really targeting the muscles, and low cardio, where you're sculpting and getting your heart rate up but not beating yourself up.
The muscles that are used in Ballet Beautiful are similar to those used in classic ballet. They're also muscles that don't get used very often, which is why it burns so much.
Carrying a baby is such hard work, I've found that the stronger I am, the better I feel.
Most of the time, even if I'm at home in my sweatpants, I probably have a pair of slippers on.
A simple ballet wrap sweater heats the back muscles but is easy to put on or take off without disturbing a dancer's makeup or hair before a performance or during a workout.
I launched Ballet Beautiful not long after finishing at Columbia and met Natalie Portman shortly after. We began training and preparing her for her role in 'Black Swan.' From there, I continued to build and expand the method itself along with the business, always looking for ways to share the workout with others around the world.
It's empowering to find a workout that builds strength and grace.
A lot of fitness has that very masculine energy and drive, and that never worked for me. I want to be challenged. I don't want to be told that I'm terrible and that I suck and that I'm not good enough - that's not motivating.
Even if it's snowing or raining, I'm always wearing sunscreen.
The key to building long muscle as you swim is stretching arms far ahead of you in the water, sort of like a swan.
Nail polish is like the icing on the beauty cake.
By continuing to work out and dance while pregnant, I feel a double reward from maintaining my normal routine but all the while knowing that baby is sharing in my day.
For a ballerina, the worst thing imaginable is big thighs.
I'm very sensitive to salt. I always see and feel a big difference in my body when I eat it, so I try to consume salt in moderation.
I don't let my wardrobe dictate my diet.
I don't believe in depriving myself; it's an unhealthy state of mind.
My body needs a lot of protein because I exercise so much. I eat dairy, meat, and gluten, but I stay away from white flour, sugar, and processed foods.
I think most people don't need as much cardio as they think they do.
It's not about having a perfectly sculpted figure; it's about feeling healthy, fit, and confident.
For a ballerina, the center of balance is everything - creating a strong center of balance begins with building strong abdominal muscles.
Making fitness a priority will energize you, make you look and feel better, and help diffuse stress.
A simple scoop-neck leotard highlights a ballerina's swanlike neck and elegant posture, both rooted in a powerful core.
Ballet Beautiful is a workout that transforms the body without overtaxing the system or joints.
I like to think that when you take care of yourself, when you do nice things for yourself, it has a nice ripple effect on the rest of the world.
Ballet Beautiful is about finding balance and making fitness a part of your life in a happy, healthy, rewarding way where you get to feel pretty and look beautiful. It's not about beating yourself up in the gym and locking yourself in a dark room with blasting music.
I sometimes wash my face at night with Cetaphil, which I like because it's a really gentle face wash.
One of the things I found as a dancer is that you're trying to perfect your body but also protect it and keep it injury-free. When you work against your own weight, you're still building lean muscle and bone density, but you're in a safer zone.
Working out should be empowering! It should make you look and feel strong, elegant, healthy - the best possible version of you.
Ballet is an incredible art, but it can be a bit elitist, which is a really big turn off to me.
When you're wearing pointe shoes, honestly, they hurt - a lot - every day.
I find that healthy eating makes me feel happier, stronger, and more confident.
A lot of fitness is about contractions - you're doing squats, or you're on a bike and your knees are bending but never stretching all the way, so your muscles get strengthened but look short and thick.
Mid-afternoon, I snack on Greek yogurt with nuts or a green juice from Juice Press.
Ballet was just something that I always wanted to do.
Ballet opens up the chest and the arms and elongates the body, so you carry yourself straighter. That's so important for a model. But also every woman.
I've been so fortunate to have had such a healthy, easy pregnancy and have been incredibly active the entire way through. My favorite part is feeling the baby move - but the entire process is such a miracle.
Stretching before and after every workout keeps muscles supple and helps elongate the lines of a ballerina's limbs.
Designing and creating dance clothes has taken my love for dancewear to a whole other level, melding the creative process with my daily fashion and allowing me to bring my most dreamed-about ballet styles to life.
For ballet dancers, style is about melding personal expression with physical form.
Generally speaking, I love a workout that includes stretching and toning exercises for legs and core on the mat paired with ballet-inspired cardio and Barre exercises to get the heart rate up and take the results to the next level.
There's no feeling like performing. It's magical, it's so rewarding, and it just feeds this special little part of your soul.
A few times a week, I'll put on La Roche-Posay's Active C Facial Moisturizer. That's probably my favorite cream. It clears up my skin a bit and provides more of an anti-wrinkle element.
My approach in general is to take really great care of my skin, but I try not to overdo it and not use too many crazy products.
