105. How Dancers Can Prevent Injuries During Busy Seasons ft. Physiotherapist Erika Mayall

Physiotherapist and dance medicine specialist Erika Mayall, founder of Allegro Performance + Wellness in Vancouver, BC, joins us to share expert guidance on managing and preventing injuries during a dancer's busiest seasons. Erika breaks down why high-stakes periods like auditions, competitions, and intensives carry such elevated injury risk, and what dancers can do to protect themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. She walks us through how to build a smarter annual training calendar, how fatigue directly increases injury risk, and practical strategies for recovery even when a full night's sleep isn't realistic. Key "Pointes" from this Episode: * Why auditions, competitions, and intensives are the highest-risk times of year for dancers. * The physical and emotional/mental aspect of dance injuries. * Warning signs that a dancer may be heading toward injury. * How to tell the difference between normal muscle soreness and an injury. * What a well-structured dance season should look like and when to prioritize strength and flexibility vs. rest and recovery. * The science behind fatigue and injury risk. * Practical tips for recovery when getting more sleep isn't possible. Connect with Erika: Follow Erika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancephysioerika/ Allegro Performance's Website: https://www.allegroperformance.com/ Listen to The Dance Physio Podcast: https://www.allegroperformance.com/podcast Links and Resources: BRANDLLET: https://www.brandllet.com/ Complimentary Career Mentoring Consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring Let's connect! MY WEBSITE: thebrainyballerina.com [http://thebrainyballerina.com/] INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina [http://instagram.com/thebrainyballerina] Schedule your complimentary career consultation: https://www.thebrainyballerina.com/career-mentoring Questions/comments? Email me at caitlin@thebrainyballerina.com This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change [https://www.instagram.com/pivotballchange/] Network.