Watching old footage of myself dancing in high school honestly pains me.

The neglect I was putting my body through… it's something I’d NEVER allow as an instructor today.

Seeing myself en pointe, it’s clear just how much I was missing, and why I’m now so passionate about teaching dancers to avoid these same mistakes.

Here's my self-analysis:
❌ Core Support and Breathing Patterns: My core was completely inactive.

Without proper core activation, your balance and stability are compromised, making you more likely to lose control. This is a huge red flag for pointe dancers and one of the fastest ways to injuries like ankle sprains or stress fractures.

❌ Momentum Over Strength: My pointe work was happening purely from momentum, not from strength or ability. I wasn’t lifting into pointe; I was throwing myself there. This type of sloppy technique was placing unnecessary trauma on my feet, leading to chronic pain and degeneration. Had I trained right, I might have avoided my surgeries.

❌ Lack of Eccentric Control: The scariest part for me was the complete absence of eccentric control. Every time I moved out of a position, it was like I was collapsing, just falling out of it.

When dancers lack control coming down from pointe or out of positions, it can cause serious injuries, from Achilles tendon issues to long-term foot problems.

And that’s just the beginning… I haven’t even mentioned the jumps in this video that, to this day, I can’t believe even happened 🤦‍♀️.

It’s embarrassing to watch, but please, no negative comments toward young Veronica. I tried my hardest with a heart full of passion, and I still carry that passion with me today.

Now, I use it to help dancers and instructors become the Safest Strongest™ they can be.

My lack of technique and the injuries I accumulated have fueled my mission to prevent the next generation of dancers from suffering the way I did.

With the knowledge I've gained as a Physical Therapist Assistant, Certified Personal Trainer, and yes—I did eventually go on to dance professionally—I’m here to share everything I wish I had known.

If you’re an instructor who wants to learn exactly how to keep your dancers safe, comment 3DUCATOR below to get started with injury prevention training.

Or if you’re ready to transform yourself the way I did, comment METAMORPHOSIS and let’s grow into butterflies together 🦋

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