Lindsay Garrett

After 18 years of competitive Junior Olympic level gymnastics, I bring my skill at defying gravity to the ground floor through Piel Canela’s Stretch and Conditioning class.  My success as a gymnast stemmed from a variety of factors, however, a large part of my training involved dance, flexibility and core conditioning.  These roots transcend beyond gymnastics, forming a foundation for all related activities, and specifically those in the dance world.
Following the conclusion of my gymnastics career, I moved on to law school as an outlet for my competitive drive and intensity.  Throughout law school I trained as a long distance runner, gaining even greater insight into the physiology behind sound interactions between the body and mind. During this time, I also continued training as a dancer, exploring genres beyond my prior ballet and jazz training, which eventually led me to the world of Salsa.  Now a member of Piel Canela’s Professional Dance Company, I continue to find myself relying upon this finely tuned baseline of flexibility and core control. 
To maintain enough endurance for enjoyment of the plethora of classes available at Piel Canela, your body will certainly need my Stretch & Conditioning class. Do not expect relaxation and meditation in this class – come to class ready to push your body to the next level!  This class focuses on lengthening the muscles via thorough stretching head to toe.   Proper stretching increases flexibility while also enhancing injury prevention.  A pliable muscle is a durable muscle!   Mixed in with these stretches are exercises designed to attack your core while keeping your heart rate moving. 

Although Latin dance involves a freedom of the body mixed with a spirited feel for the music, everything has a balance.  Regardless of your preferred dance genre, a strong core remains an essential ingredient in maintaining body control, balance, clean form and the ability to execute various skills with ease and grace.  Developing a strong core will also create a bolder dichotomy between controlled movement and the dramatic releases of the head whips, hip shakes and shoulder shimmies that enhance the beauty of Salsa’s free flowing movements.  The Stretch & Conditioning class at PCD offers a way to spice up this form of dance even more by honing the flexibility and strength required to kick those hot, sexy stiletto style salsa shoes high into the air with the proper sassy flair!