Find Your Balance: 5 Exercises to Improve Balance

Though we may not always think about it, balance is essential to just about everything we do in our daily routines. From simply getting out of bed, leaning over to tie our shoes, or even walking to the mailbox, we need good balance to keep ourselves steady while performing normal tasks.

KNOW WHY BALANCE IS IMPORTANT.

Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary or moving. It is a key component of fitness that many people neglect while developing their fitness regimen. Balance training is a great way to help your body recognize where it is and control movements in a given space. When the body knows where its limbs are in space — known as proprioception — it is able to produce smooth, controlled movements with fewer risks of injuries.

Reaction time and agility are also improved with balance training. The body learns how to quickly correct itself but not overcompensate and has the ability to quickly change direction effectively and efficiently.

Though balance training is important for everyone, it is especially important for those who have problems due to illness, weakness, or dizziness. It allows them to overcome stiffness or unsteadiness and to develop an awareness of body segments and how to align them.

THESE EXERCISES HELP WITH BALANCE.

Balance training involves exercises to strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright and improve stability. These types of exercises can be done as often as you like or even every day.

Consider trying the following exercises:

• Standing with your weight on one leg and raising the other leg to the side or behind you.
• Putting one heel right in front of the other foot, as if you were walking a tightrope.
• Standing up and sitting down from a chair without using your hands.
• Walking while alternating knee lifts with each step.
• Stretching and gentle movement as part of yoga or tai chi.

 

Balance is essential to living a healthy, functional life. It’s important to incorporate balance training into your fitness regimen. That way you can decrease the risk of injuries and help move freely and confidently.