Your Best Body: Gulp, Don't Sip

All smart dancers know they have to hydrate their bodies throughout class and rehearsal. But no one enjoys the feeling of liquid sloshing around in their stomach during petit allegro—or the cramps that can cause. Surprisingly, the key to drinking while exercising is to gulp, not sip. It seems counterintuitive, but there’s a reason: When you gulp water, you take in more fluid. That stimulates the stretch receptors in your stomach, promoting faster emptying so that the water moves rapidly through your system instead of swishing around in your belly.