Don't Just Lie There

Foam rollers are one of the most ubiquitous props in the dance studio. And for good reason—ballet creates some serious knots in the muscles!

But you can use these tools for much more than self-massage. There are a number of exercises that take advantage of the rollers’ cylindrical shape to challenge your core. Shape and Women’s Health both recently published great workouts using foam rollers to sculpt the body.

My personal favorite: The shell curl. Oh my lower abdominals. So painful, yet so great for building the strength to maintain proper placement.