Caring for your Dancin’ Feet
I love to ice my feet after a show or a long day of rehearsals! I feel that with the amount of wear and tear that my body has endured over the years, icing has helped me to stay healthy and will hopefully extend my career.
It can be hard to get used to at first. I used to dread icing my feet – it was too cold for me! My secret is to put the ice in after I put my feet in the bucket of water so that my feet adapt to the water temperature slowly. I ice for at least ten to fifteen minutes immediately after I finish with rehearsals. Research shows that icing is not as effective unless you do it immediately following our workout. I like to think long term about the overall health of my body because I know that by taking care of my body, my body will take care of me.
Try icing after each workout and see for yourself if your body recovers a bit quicker.
In any case, take care of your body with whatever you do because you only get one of them!