The Importance of Balance

Anyone who has been to my classes before will know that, with the exception of Yin Yoga, I include a few balance poses in all of my classes. Not only is practicing balance fun, but it’s also so good for you.

Why is balance so important? Here are some of the benefits of working on balance:

• strengthens your core, which can alleviate and even prevent back pain
• injury prevention and rehabilitation
• fall prevention
• works your muscles head to toe and challenges muscle groups to work together, which improves overall strength and posture
• enhanced performance – this includes any activities or sports you may do and also things such as simply walking on icy sidewalks or uneven terrain
• cognitive benefits – studies have shown that stimulating the areas of the brain responsible for balance can benefit the brain as a whole

Balance training is easy, requires no equipment (all you need is you!), can be done anywhere, can easily be fit into your day and can be adapted to all abilities. Try simply standing on one foot (be sure to do both sides) or standing on your toes while waiting for a pot to boil for example. Just starting out? Have a counter, wall or chair nearby for support and touch your foot down as needed.

Need a little more? Try adding some movement such as bending and straightening or swinging your leg or moving your arms. For even more challenge, try closing your eyes (just make sure your surroundings are safe in case you teeter). Moving in and out of balance is how we become stronger, wobbling is not a bad thing!

Balance poses can also be done kneeling, seated or even on your back. It’s good to explore a variety of balance poses.

Yoga is a fantastic way to work on balance, we can do balance poses standing, seated, kneeling, on our sides and even on our backs! Some days balance comes easily for us and we feel very solid in our poses, other days not so much, but it’s all part of the adventure. Have fun with it and try not to take yourself too seriously.