This one is all about balance,
Balance training improves health. Balance is one of the fundamentals of physical health, whether it be for performance in athletes or improving stability with age it is also important for everyone.
Adding Some Balance
Balance training can sometimes be overlooked when beginning an exercise program. This may be because many people don’t understand the benefits of balance training.
Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary such as holding a yoga pose or while moving.
Balance is a key component of fitness, along with strength, endurance, coordination and flexibility. There are various ways to perform balance exercises with various stability-focused exercises. We often include this in our programming for Reformer classes and One on One sessions.
Any movement where you need to maintain your balance or move something while maintaining balance builds your ability to balance.
Improving your balance can also help with performing your daily activities like standing on tiptoes to reach something on the top shelf, walking up and down the stairs, or walking on an uneven sidewalk without falling.
A recent study - Araujo, C. G., de Souza e Silva, C. G., Laukkanen, J. A., Fiatarone Singh, M., Kunutsor, S., Myers, J., Franca, J. F., & Castro, C. L. (2022). Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Showed the link between balance and longevity and high ligths the importance balance plays in our overall health.
Balance training can sometimes be overlooked when beginning an exercise program. This may be because many people don’t understand the benefits of balance training.
Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary such as holding a yoga pose or while moving.
Balance is a key component of fitness, along with strength, endurance, coordination and flexibility. There are various ways to perform balance exercises with various stability-focused exercises. We often include this in our programming for Reformer classes and One on One sessions.
Any movement where you need to maintain your balance or move something while maintaining balance builds your ability to balance.
Improving your balance can also help with performing your daily activities like standing on tiptoes to reach something on the top shelf, walking up and down the stairs, or walking on an uneven sidewalk without falling.
A recent study - Araujo, C. G., de Souza e Silva, C. G., Laukkanen, J. A., Fiatarone Singh, M., Kunutsor, S., Myers, J., Franca, J. F., & Castro, C. L. (2022). Successful 10-second one-legged stance performance predicts survival in middle-aged and older individuals. British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Showed the link between balance and longevity and high ligths the importance balance plays in our overall health.
Our favourite benefits of balance training
1) Body Awareness – Body awareness is the sense of how your limbs are oriented in space, also known as proprioception. With balance training, you improve body awareness, which decreases the likelihood of injury.
2) Coordination – Balance training requires your entire body to work together, otherwise, you will fall or stumble. Improved coordination during balance training will be transferred into coordination in everyday life.
3) Joint Stability – Balance training promotes the stability of knees, ankles, hips, and shoulders. This can prevent a large array of injuries and allows the body to build a tolerance to instability including sprained ankles and serious knee problems.
4) Reaction Time – Balance training can improve one’s reaction time. If you happen to slip or stumble when performing balance exercises, your body needs to re-balance immediately or you will fall. This in turn will improve your reaction time in everyday life. This applies to sports such as tennis, soccer, and other reaction-based activities including Esports.
5) Long-term health- Incorporating balance training into your exercise routine helps to maintain or improve your balance, which is needed to prevent falls and fractures. As we age, our balance can deteriorate, something we want to avoid.
It is evident how important
balance is to living a healthy, functional life
. It is important to incorporate balance exercises into your fitness routine. If you don’t know where to start, try these balance exercises:
- See how long you can stand on one foot, or try holding for 10 seconds on each side.
- Walk heel to toe for 20 steps. Steady yourself with a wall if you need a little extra support.
If you find standing on one foot very challenging at first, try this progression to improve your balance:
- Hold on to a wall or sturdy chair with both hands to support yourself.
- Next, hold on with only one hand.
- Then support yourself with only one finger.
- When you are steady on your feet, try balancing with no support at all.
-
1) Body Awareness – Body awareness is the sense of how your limbs are oriented in space, also known as proprioception. With balance training, you improve body awareness, which decreases the likelihood of injury.
2) Coordination – Balance training requires your entire body to work together, otherwise, you will fall or stumble. Improved coordination during balance training will be transferred into coordination in everyday life.
3) Joint Stability – Balance training promotes the stability of knees, ankles, hips, and shoulders. This can prevent a large array of injuries and allows the body to build a tolerance to instability including sprained ankles and serious knee problems.
4) Reaction Time – Balance training can improve one’s reaction time. If you happen to slip or stumble when performing balance exercises, your body needs to re-balance immediately or you will fall. This in turn will improve your reaction time in everyday life. This applies to sports such as tennis, soccer, and other reaction-based activities including Esports.
5) Long-term health- Incorporating balance training into your exercise routine helps to maintain or improve your balance, which is needed to prevent falls and fractures. As we age, our balance can deteriorate, something we want to avoid.
It is evident how important balance is to living a healthy, functional life . It is important to incorporate balance exercises into your fitness routine. If you don’t know where to start, try these balance exercises:
- See how long you can stand on one foot, or try holding for 10 seconds on each side.
- Walk heel to toe for 20 steps. Steady yourself with a wall if you need a little extra support.
If you find standing on one foot very challenging at first, try this progression to improve your balance:
- Hold on to a wall or sturdy chair with both hands to support yourself.
- Next, hold on with only one hand.
- Then support yourself with only one finger.
- When you are steady on your feet, try balancing with no support at all.
-
This week we are offering initial consultations that include appropriate balance assessments.
Yoga and Pilates classes to progress your balance.
One of our specialists can assist you individually with a tailored exercise and balance program.
Yoga and Pilates classes to progress your balance.
One of our specialists can assist you individually with a tailored exercise and balance program.
