Injuries are a part of life for endurance trainers at any age. For mature athletes, it can be a ritual of daily exercise, stretches, massage, and more, just to stay in the game. One way to salvage sore muscles is to roll out on a foam roller.

Now the NYT shows us in beautiful photos by New York City corps de ballet dancer Devin Alberda that even principal ballerinas find relief with foam. In these captivating series of shots, dancer Janie Taylor rolls out her quads; dancer Ashley Laracey rubs her neck; and Jenelle Manzi gets a massage.

It’s a world we rarely see. We don’t see the years of training and grueling work-outs these dancers must endure; we don’t see the physical sacrifices. Most of us only see the stunning performances of these athletes as they dance across stage—and into our hearts. For balletomanes, dance is the universal expression of emotion and awe.

Watch NYC ballet dancers Maria Kowroski and Ask la Cour dance “After the Rain,” choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. The company calls it a “testament to the resilience of the human spirit.”