Got Shoulder Tension? Avoid Chewing Gum

We all know that chewing gum in the studio is poor dancer etiquette, not to mention a choking hazard. But before any rebellious dancers roll their eyes, take a look at the latest science: Recent research shows that chomping on gum can also adversely affect your dancing. The study, published in the 
Journal of Applied Physiology
,
 
found that chewing gum during athletic activity lowers your respiratory rate—and we all know what an important role breath plays in movement. 
What’s more, chewing gum while active also puts more stress on the trapezius muscles. So if your shoulders tend to creep up toward your ears during tricky combinations or you’re likely to hold your breath during barre, gum might just be your arch nemesis.