How To Find Your Balance (Literally)
How improving your physical balance and strength can improve your body - and mind
We spend our lives trying to find balance, including work-life balance and physical balance. And it can be a challenge. It’s because our sense of balance is how we move in the world. “Our balance affects our focus and our attitude, “ says yoga instructor Louise West. “Balance, strength and feeling grounded infuses into your body and shapes your attitude to life. We come into the world unsteady on our feet and we cannot take it for granted.”
If you want to test how good your balance is, close your eyes and try standing on one leg for a minute. How did you do?
If you find that you are quite wobbly, it’s not unusual. Most people naturally start to gain fat and lose muscle mass and tendon quality in their mid 20s. All this affects your balance. Your eyesight and your inner ear also play a part in your ability to stay upright.
It’s worth improving your balance because it can help your overall health. Better balance has been linked to lower rates of dementia and stroke, and better overall health. Several studies suggest that if you cannot stand still on one leg for 10 seconds in your middle to later years your risk of death within 10 years is double the average.
Standing on one leg and trying to stay steady is a great way to stabilise the core muscles in your body - the main muscles in our body that allow us to move around with confidence nad freedom.
“When you stand on one leg, tiny little muscles in your body and legs work to keep you upright” says Louise. “It’s important to strengthen your core muscles - the muscles in your waist, back and pelvis.”
The good news is that it is possible to improve your balance with exercise and repetition - for example doing yoga exercise two to three times a week. Make sure you do the same exercises on both sides of your body, so that you challenge your coordination and stay balanced.
Try poses like Tree pose, where you stand on one leg, or Eagle pose, where you balance on one leg with your legs and arms wrapped around your body.
“The key is to listen to your body. To maintain your balance, your brain needs to process information from all over your body. You have to concentrate and be in the moment to balance properly, and this has the side effect of increasing mindfulness. When you are trying to balance it’s impossible to think about much except not falling.” says Louise West.
Don’t expect to be perfect - some days you will feel steady on your feet and other days you will feel wobbly.
You can also add dancing to your balancing workout. And as a bonus, it’s not just a feel good exercise or a way to practise your balance, it also makes you smarter. Japanese scientists have discovered that dancing enhances brain function and boosts memory in people of all ages.
Text: Bauer Syndication/ARE Media