I now have three ballet classes under my belt and each one gets a little bit easier. A lot of the exercises are repeated each lesson, which is lucky because it seems I’m a bit backward when it comes to picking up routines. After having done them a few times though I’m finally getting the hang of when I should be stretching or bending, going forward or diagonal and raising my right or my left arm and I’m moving in the same direction of the rest of the class. This means that I can actually concentrate on doing the exercises properly – and work my limbs harder. At the end of each class I can feel the effort I’ve put in, especially in my legs – if I keep this up I’ll have pins that Jennifer Aniston would be proud of.

Another benefit: My back and shoulders which, after years of hunching over a computer, have a default setting of slouch, are at last being pulled into a position that resembles good posture. I’m hoping that after a few more lessons I’ll be walking tall outside of the studio as well as in.

Central School of Ballet (http://www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk/)