A Pilates instructor says this ballet-inspired workout will help you develop the balance, strength and flexibility of a dancer—I put it to the test

I spent most of my teenage years in a dance studio, and while I hung up my ballet shoes 10 years ago, dance-inspired workouts always excite me, because I know that dance training is one of the best ways to get strong and flexible.

That’s why I was delighted by the launch of a new series on Alo Moves called Ballet Pilates 2.0, combining the principles of these two styles of movement in a five-part series.

It’s led by Laura Quinn, the head Pilates trainer at Alo Moves, who was also a professional ballerina for 15 years, and I got the chance to speak with Quinn about what to expect from the series.

What to expect from Ballet Pilates?

Primarily, expect a fun twist on Pilates.

“Workouts should challenge us, improve our quality of life, and help with body composition goals. I think adding dance elements adds to the fun and I hope others feel the same,” says Quinn.

“You’ll see poses like passé, relevé, and other ballet positions as part of the flow,” says Quinn. “You’ll notice the lengthening qualities of ballet-style movement throughout these workouts.”

What you won’t see are high-impact movements. The sessions are crafted to be beginner-friendly and suitable for people looking for a workout that doesn't damage the joints.

My experience trying a Ballet Pilates workout

I decided to try one of the ballet Pilates workouts to see if it offers more of a challenge than regular Pilates routines.

I tried the first workout in the series, which is 20 minutes long and involves the use of a block and a pair of light dumbbells, although you can do the routine without these props.

It started with some downward-facing dog variations to warm up. This involved lifting one leg in the air during downward dog and keeping it off the floor as I moved into a plank.

It was a challenging sequence, which was a taste of what was to come—a tough but effective workout that engaged muscles all over my body.

We did most of the movements with one leg on a yoga block. This added an extra challenge to all of the exercises, which included lunges and squats, because I had to engage my core muscles even more to maintain my balance.

“Any unstable surface will challenge you to engage your stabilizing muscles, which in turn will improve balance and core strength,” explains Quinn.

“Balance is essential for everyday activities like walking up the stairs. By focusing on balance during workouts, you can reduce the risk of falls, improve coordination and overall improve physical wellbeing,” says Quinn.

We worked on one side of the body at a time and all of the exercises flowed into one another. I prefer moving in this way, where you have to continually focus on the movement and your breath. It helps to clear my head of any anxieties about the rest of my day.

It also increases the time your muscles are under tension, because there are fewer breaks when your muscles can rest, so it’s a great way to build muscular endurance.

There were some ballet moves in the workout alongside traditional Pilates exercises. For example, I moved into a passé—which involves standing on one leg while the foot of the other leg lifts to the knee with the knee turned out to the side—in between lunges.

This was an enjoyable way to incorporate new moves into the workout, particularly if, like me, you’ve done lots of strength or Pilates routines and are used to seeing the same moves come up over and over again.

The ballet movements were also a fantastic way to improve balance, coordination and flexibility.

Overall, I really enjoyed this workout. It’s challenging, but it will build strength, improve your flexibility, and work on your coordination and balance, the Alo Moves Ballet Pilates series is well worth a try.

Alo Moves offers a 14-day free trial of Ballet Pilates (and all of the other types of movement it offers—our Alo Moves review explains more). After the trial period ends, it costs $12.99 a month. You can also preview what these ballet Pilates classes have in store on Alo Moves’ Instagram.