Balance Training Is Both Physical And Emotional
Posted on August 1, 2009
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How do we keep our balance? Both the physical and the emotional kind? Training our minds to be as balanced as our bodies is especially challenging in this busy world. All it takes is a little practice. Balance training is just like any other kind of workout and has a very specific goal. Dont fall! That is your goal. But what exactly does it take to make our bodies and our minds better equipped to staying upright?
To physically understand balance training, look at the muscles needed in keeping our balance. Leg muscles, back muscles, and core muscles make up the magic grouping. These are the groups of muscles involved with keeping upright and balanced. Keeping these body parts strong and agile will help fend off fits of falling especially as we age.
The leg muscles and their ability to react with strength have an enormous impact on strong balance skills. Exercises like squats and lunges work your quads, hamstrings, glutes and lower leg. They work doubly hard by working balance itself. Try doing a lunge when your balance is off. Its impossible. If age related injuries or old sports injures prevent you from doing squats and lunges, take a swim. Swimming is a weight supported exercise and a little easier on the joints than weight bearing exercise.
The back muscles working directly with the spine can keep you mobile and standing tall. The long erector muscles on either side of the spinal column do exactly what their name implies by keeping your spine erect. As long as there isnt any outstanding issues with degenerative disc or bone diseases, strengthening these back muscles will help to keep you standing tall. The function of the spinal muscles is to move your spine into extension, so any exercise that works spinal extension should be added into balance training.
Core muscles include the abdominal, gluteal, inner thigh, and pelvic floor muscles. These are the biggest contributors to better posture and balance. Keeping stable on an unstable surface automatically engages the core muscles. For instance, working on a balance pad or any other unstable tool forces you into trying to keep your balance and its the core muscles that keep you there. Pilates is infamous for a stronger core, so find a qualified instructor and find your balance.
Keeping a balanced body is challenging, but keeping a balanced life is more intangible and harder to do. This life is busy! Raising kids in this kind of environment while still keeping some sense of who you are is the biggest challenge of all. Find moments of peace where you can reflect on your day. Taking time for yourself can be meaningful in the long run and better for your family.
Everybody knows the importance of aging well. Staying strong requires a responsibility to both the physical (body) and emotional(mind). The future will come sooner than expected. So why put off something you can prepare to do now?
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