Build strength and increase flexibility in your feet and ankles. Articulate slowly and deliberately through your feet when you perform basic pointe exercises in class. Control your movements as you roll through from flat-feet to demi-pointe to full-pointe and as you reverse the direction from full-pointe to demi-pointe to flat-feet. Routinely perform simple flex-and-point exercises, using an exercise band for added resistance.
Build your core muscles. Strong abdominal and back muscles will help lift you up and over your toe box and prevent you from relying too much on your shoes. Perform forward and side planks and forward and oblique crunches which are all exercises that specifically target the core.
Improve your turnout by consciously rotating outward from the hips, whether on demi- or full-pointe. The same inner thigh muscles that are vital for turnout also help you find your stable center over your toe box.
Engage the upper leg muscles and lengthen the knees when working on full-pointe. You may be tempted to soften the knees in an attempt to get fully over your toe box, but doing so leaves you less stable and more vulnerable to injury.
Confirm that you have the best fitting pointe shoe for your particular foot. To achieve proper alignment over your box, your shoe must fit precisely. Consult with a professional fitter to determine your needs with respect to vamp length, type and shape of box and strength of shank. If you are experiencing difficulty getting over the box, consider experimenting with a different size, style or pointe shoe manufacturer.