How Ballet Fitness Strengthens Immunity and Restores Balance
- Brainz Magazine
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
Written by Flik Swan, Co-Founder of Sleek Technique
Well known as the creators of the Sleek Technique method and establishing it as the first online dance fitness business in the UK, Victoria and Flik have a wealth of expertise in the health and fitness industry. Seamlessly blending the benefits of ballet with mainstream fitness, they help women across the globe achieve their fitness goals.
Pass the echinacea? We often think of immunity as something we can boost, with a smoothie, a supplement, or a quick wellness hack. While all these things have health benefits, in truth, your immune system isn’t a switch you flip on or off. It’s a dynamic, beautifully interconnected network that responds to how you move, eat, rest, and even think. And when cold and flu season approaches, we all become more aware of what our bodies have to defend against on a day-to-day basis. But it’s not just the sneezes we want to keep at bay when it comes to immunity.
I’ve always been fascinated by the immune system, partly because of my own experience with vitiligo, an autoimmune condition I developed after a skin trauma as a young girl. In vitiligo, the immune system mistakenly targets the cells that produce skin pigment, leading to lighter patches on the skin. It’s a reminder that our immune systems are powerful, but also sensitive to stress, inflammation, and imbalance. In my 20s, when I was officially diagnosed with the condition and wasn’t thinking much about lifestyle choices, I experienced my most rapid increase in white skin patches.
But even when smarter lifestyle choices are in place, stress is a huge drain on our immune system. A few years ago, a severe emotional trauma triggered a rapid vitiligo flare that came as quickly as the stress itself. It passed when I regained balance in my life, recovered my body and nervous system, and was patient with my body. Through my work as a functional nutrition and lifestyle coach, and as co-founder of Sleek Technique Ballet Fitness, I’ve come to see that stress triggered flare as a beautiful sign that immunity is not a standalone function but the result of our body’s amazing biological resilience. Through body, mind, and lifestyle choices, we can either support our immune health or deplete it. And we have control over this, beginning with how we move.
Movement that strengthens, not stresses
Ballet-inspired fitness holds a unique place in the wellness world. It strengthens without strain, targets without tension, and encourages alignment both physically and mentally.
When we move in a way that flows while still maintaining technique, the very essence of ballet fitness, we increase circulation and lymphatic movement, two key players in immune health. The lymphatic system acts like an internal cleansing system, carrying away waste and supporting the immune cells that defend against illness.
Unlike heavy bouts of high-impact exercise that can elevate stress hormones and compromise recovery, ballet fitness keeps the body in a balanced zone, stimulating the immune system while nurturing the nervous system. You finish your workout feeling grounded, not depleted, and able to recover fully.
Nutrition: The foundation of every strong performance
Every movement in ballet is intentional, and our nutrition should be too. The immune system relies on a steady supply of nutrients to create the energy, proteins, and antioxidants it needs to function efficiently.
Our plates should include:
Protein for repair and immune cell production, such as lean meat, eggs, tofu, pulses, or high-quality fish.
Colourful vegetables and berries are rich in antioxidants to neutralise inflammation.
Healthy fats from avocados, nuts, and seeds help keep hormones balanced and cell membranes strong.
Hydration, which keeps lymph fluid flowing and supports immune defence and muscle recovery.
Your immune system doesn’t thrive on restriction, it flourishes through nourishment. Remember my 20s and the flare-ups I experienced? That showed up in my body. Now I see every balanced meal as an act of self-care that strengthens and fuels my body’s multiple systems, including my immune system. Thinking of your food choices that way helps keep your plate nutrient-dense.
The forgotten discipline: Recovery
In ballet, recovery isn’t optional. Dancers understand that the body becomes stronger between rehearsals and performances, not during them. The same applies to your immune system.
After any class or workout, your body enters a phase of renewal, rebuilding muscle tissue, replenishing glycogen, and restoring immune defences. If you don’t allow this phase to happen through proper rest and recovery, inflammation can linger and your immunity can weaken. So how do we recover? Do we just do nothing?
Recovery can take many forms:
A slow ballet stretch or gentle flow day (my personal favourite).
Breathing work or meditation to calm the nervous system.
A warm magnesium drink or mineral bath to support muscle relaxation and better sleep.
A 20-minute sauna with electrolytes for rehydration (a daily ritual for me).
Rest is not laziness. It’s a strategy. It’s the hidden strength that allows all your hard work to strengthen your body and build lasting resilience.
The role of stress and sleep
Stress and sleep are the twin conductors of your immune symphony. Chronic stress floods the body with cortisol, which, when sustained and unaddressed, can suppress immune function and slow recovery.
That’s why the mindful, controlled nature of ballet fitness is so powerful. It teaches your body to work through effort with control, move to a beat, and find presence in each artistic step. These qualities extend beyond the studio, reducing stress responses in everyday life.
And then there’s sleep, the factor I prioritise most because it is the ultimate recovery state. During deep sleep, the body produces growth hormone and immune-protective proteins known as cytokines. This is your nightly repair process, the quiet time that keeps your immune system performance-ready.
The Sleek Technique philosophy
At Sleek Technique, we combine the precision and artistry of ballet with modern functional fitness principles. The result is a training method that sculpts the body, focuses the mind, and strengthens the systems, including your immunity, keeping you healthy from within.
Your immune system doesn’t respond to perfectionism or punishment, it responds to balance. This is achieved when you move with intelligence, eat with awareness, rest with purpose, and practice breath work intentionally.
Taking steps to support your health
Immunity and recovery are not separate from your daily life, whether you’re a busy working parent like me or simply juggling the balls life throws at you.
So the next time you practice a plié, roll down through your spine, or take a deep physiological sigh, remember, you’re not just training your muscles and calming your nerves. You’re building your immunity, nurturing your nervous system, and creating balance that brings resilience and strength to your body.
Health, like ballet, is an ongoing dance between strength and calm. Find out for yourself here and join us for a free 7-day trial.
Read more from Flik Swan
Flik Swan, Co-Founder of Sleek Technique
After 20 years at the top of the professional dance world, Victoria and Flik brought their combined expertise in dance and fitness together and pioneered the first online dance fitness business in the UK. Laying the groundwork for many others to follow, they continue to bring creative, effective fitness to women everywhere, regardless of location.
