Yesterday I wrote
about balance in a mostly metaphorical sense.
Today, I feel more literal.
Balance is an often-neglected part of our workouts, which is bad since
it is so crucial to our long-term health.
The statistics about what happens to older people after falling and
breaking a hip are not encouraging, for example. I don’t think I know anyone who is truly
looking forward to having to live out the end of days in a nursing home because
it is unsafe to go to the bathroom alone.
Many of the
things we can do to improve our balance don’t even have to happen during
workouts. Like everything else, practice
is the key. So brush your teeth on
tippy-toe. Wash the dishes on one
leg. Play tightrope on the sidewalk
while the dog is investigating that fascinating smell in the bushes.
And, yes, we can
work on it in workouts, too. That means
core. And possibly work with the Bosu or
a wobble board or a turntable.
One-legged catch is also a good way to put balance in a workout without
creating a huge muscle burden.
As for balancing
the mind, well, that’s beyond the scope of my practice. You’re on your own there.
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