10 Effective Ways to Improve Your Balance and Stability
Improving your balance can help with performing daily activities like standing on tiptoes to reach something on the top shelf, walking up and down stairs, or walking on an uneven sidewalk without falling. As we age, our balance can decline, so it’s important to keep active and actively work on balance and stability.
Balance training is often neglected when people are developing their fitness regime. Balance is key to your fitness, along with strength, endurance, and flexibility. There are various ways to perform balance exercises. Equipment like a stability ball, BOSU ball, or balance board can be incorporated, along with the following 10 ways to help you improve.
- Strengthen Your Core
Your core is engaged in almost every single exercise and movement of your body. Because of this, it is so important that you have a strong core in order to maintain appropriate balance and stability.
- Attend A Yoga Class
Yoga is a great form of exercise for increasing your balance and stability because it incorporates a variety of exercises that require you to practice balancing on one leg or arm, or using opposite arms and legs at the same time.
- Find A Focal Point
A great way to start off gaining good balance and stability is to find a focal point to stare at whenever performing a balancing move.
- Try Balancing On An Uneven Surface
If you find that you can safely balance on the ground, then try balancing on a surface that is uneven, such as a BOSU ball or a balance board.
- Give Dance A Try
Dancing involves all parts of your body. Because of this, you must be able to balance and stabilize yourself when doing anything from a spin to a lift with a partner.
- Balance An Object On Your Head
Something as simple as walking around with an object on your head, such as a book or cup, can go a long way in improving your balancing and stability because you are more aware of your movement.
- Close Your Eyes While Balancing
Balancing while your eyes are open is the first step, but to make things a bit more difficult, you can try balancing for a designated amount of time with your eyes closed.
- Spread Your Toes
When performing a move on one foot, such as a single leg squat or deadlift, be sure to spread out your toes. This creates a wider base of support, thus increasing your balance.
- Wear Good Shoes
Avoid or reduce the amount of time that you spend wearing shoes that can lead to improper body mechanics overtime, such as high heels, flip-flops, etc. Instead, wear shoes that are supportive and allow your entire kinetic chain to fire properly.
- Engage Mentally
In order to properly stabilize and balance yourself, this requires you to mentally focus on what you are doing and then engage your body in the movements.
Do you incorporate balance exercises into your fitness routine? If so, share with us some of the exercises you have in your regimen by commenting below.
