3 THINGS A CAREER IN DANCE TAUGHT ME... About my body.

Before I dived into the fitness industry, I spent many years as a professional dancer & musical theatre performer. I loved this time in my life & had some amazing experiences, but it was incredibly physical work. I was sometimes performing 12+ full shows per week for months on end, plus rehearsals in between. This often meant 40 hours of intense dance work per week, which took its toll on my body. It also meant looking after myself physically was a non-negotiable. I learnt a lot along the way about my training & my body, which can be applied to us all, & I would like to share with you in the hope you, too, can benefit.

1. Being big looks great, but being strong feels better

25 year old you might thank you for the confidence boost that comes with bulking up considerably, but if that's all you're training for you might regret it down the line. Not only will you be injury prone, but 60 year old you will not function well if muscle size comes at the neglect of full body function. I now train for size 3 times weekly, but I also take part in sports, run every so often & do mobility work once per week.

Sometimes it's boring, & I would gain more muscle by focusing on that 100% of the time. However, I value the ability down the line to be a fully functioning "uncle knobhead" more than a bodybuilder. I may not be the biggest in the room, but I won't be the smallest, & I will DESTROY my kids at football in the garden (as every gym dad should).

2. Nutrition, recovery & sleep

These 3 are boring... Yet they are the foundations of the body you want to build. You can't build a decent house without the foundations; never mind the mansion you want your body to be. In fact, long term, these 3 have more of an effect on your longevity & health than the gym does. Get your nutrition fundamentals of macros, micros & variety ticked off whenever possible, sleep well & recover fully. This will get you halfway there, always.

3. Enjoyment & community beat motivation

Humans are designed to preserve energy, because we wouldn't know where the next meal was coming from. Well, now we do, yet our brains haven't caught up yet. So, we have to use our other tribal instincts to overcome our inbuilt laziness. THIS is why community-based fitness (sports, classes, competitions) is more motivating than solo journeys 9 times out of 10. Find something you look forward to getting up for! Dance was this for me, now it's my local rugby club. There is no right answer!

I hope this is the push you need to think long term & build habits to aid your future self! If you want more in depth help, you can work with me online or in person. Just drop me a message for a FREE consultation to chat it through & get your progress started TODAY!

Elliot Hutchinson // 07.09.2025

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