I don't have very strong muscles to support my developpes, but the flexibility is there, so I figured that to get the muscles stronger I would practice holding my developpes. The problem is that when I do that my quads cramp up really quickly because I think I'm using the wrong muscles. Is there another thing I can do to strengthen my legs?

I know the feeling... I have the exact same problem. I've got the flexibility, just not the control or strength to get my legs that high during class. I've fallen out of the habit, but I just used to do 10 developpes on each leg to the back, side, and front each day. Hopefully you'll get some better advice than this though

ok lifting your leg into develope has nothing to do with leg, and quad strength really. its all in abs and low back. When you're lifting your leg, think about engaging your abs and lifting from UNDER the leg....so that you use ur low back muscles...if u constantly try to use your quads..u will get nowhere. practice doing developpes front and side on the floor and make SURE your abs are engage and you're pushing down with your low back muscles to push your leg up from UNDER the leg...sorry if that made no sense theres a great post on developes somewhere in the ballet section...idk where it went tho haha

qwertyaliana93 wrote:

ok lifting your leg into develope has nothing to do with leg, and quad strength really. its all in abs and low back. When you're lifting your leg, think about engaging your abs and lifting from UNDER the leg....so that you use your low back muscles...if you constantly try to use your quads..u will get nowhere. practice doing developpes front and side on the floor and make SURE your abs are engage and you're pushing down with your low back muscles to push your leg up from UNDER the leg...sorry if that made no sense theres a great post on developes somewhere in the ballet section...idk where it went though haha

Oh my goodness; thank you so much! I will definitely try that when I get home! I thought it was all in the quads... But it's in the back and abs?! Who knew?! So I've been working the wrong muscles. Thanks again!