Think of a ballet class and chances are you'll picture a room full of cute children taking their first steps towards becoming dancers. You'll probably imagine most of the students as girls, too.
It's true that kids make up the majority of ballet learners, either as a short-lived childhood hobby or as a route towards expertise in adulthood. But there are plenty of adult ballet classes, too, and there's no reason you shouldn't think about taking one even if you're a grown man. Remember, there are plenty of males among professional dancers, and there's nothing effeminate about their skills.
If you're a man in your 30s and you've ever thought about learning ballet, it's not too late. In fact, it's a great time to start, and here's why.
It keeps your body young
In your 30s, you shouldn't find your joints seizing up and movement becoming difficult just yet, but you may see a few early warning signs.
Not everyone exercises, but even men who do tend to concentrate on strength training and cardio. While those are undoubtedly important, there's more to fitness that shouldn't be ignored.
Ballet gives you a great head-to-toe workout, improving flexibility and keeping your body young and supple. Starting in your 30s will set you up nicely for the next few decades.
It widens your social circle
In their late-20s and beyond, people often find that things like careers, relationships and families take over, and their friendships suffer. Men, in particular, tend to have a hard time maintaining friendships or forging new ones. This can lead to serious loneliness, particularly as you get older.
Taking up ballet will introduce you to a whole new group of people you wouldn't have met otherwise, which is a huge help for your social life.
It sharpens your mind
Cognitive decline sounds like something that you don't have to worry about until you're particular old, but it actually starts in your early 30s. There are numerous ways to slow it down, however, and one particularly effective method is to learn a new skill.
Taking up ballet forces your brain to form new neural pathways, which slows down the rate of decline and keeps you sharp for much longer as you age..
It's a great stress-buster
Many men in their 30s are balancing a demanding career with a young family, which is a huge source of stress. If you don't have both of these things – or you have neither – this can be stressful in itself.
The ability of exercise to reduce stress levels is well documented, and combining it with learning something new gives you positive experiences to focus on. There's also a great sense of achievement as your ability increases, which combats depression and improves your whole outlook.