I am often asked about ways to improve balance.
There are so many factors that go in to having good balance. Some things we can control and improve like footwear, focus, strength and, flexibility, and others are more difficult to control, like age, arthritis, decreased vision, and injuries. Yoga is such a great way to help us work on those factors that we can control to maximize our balance both in yoga practice and in life!
In the January Gentle Therapeutic Yoga Series, we will focus on all things balance. Each class will address a different element of balance. Below are five of the things we will work on, as well as requests from students in the class as always. You can sign up for the next series HERE
Here are five things we can work on in yoga that contribute to better balance:
Strong and flexible feet. The feet are our foundation and we want it to be solid. In yoga we work on feeling the feet on the Earth and grounding our energy down. Often it is helpful to visualize a tripod at the feet: the bone at the base of the big toe, the bone at the base of the little toe and the center of the heel. Grounding through these main points can help us to build a solid foundation.
Strong and flexible ankles: In each class we spend some time stretching the muscles around the ankles and actively strengthening them. When you stand up, your ankle muscles are constantly adjusting to keep you upright!
Hip stability. It’s harder to balance when your hips are weak. Also, weakness can contribute to pain in the legs and lower back. In standing postures, in walking, in life, our hip muscles offer stability so that our legs can walk, climb stairs, stand on one leg! Practicing yoga can build hip strength.
Strong core muscles: When we talk about core in my classes we talk about all the muscles that surround the center. Back and front and side. So much of what we practice in yoga can strengthen our core without ever doing an actual sit up.
Dristi: Our focus both internally and externally is important. Have you ever noticed that often when you loose balance, you are distracted? So many of us rely on vision to help with good balance. If you are not sure, close your eyes for a moment and stand on one leg. For most of us, this is challenging. Yoga helps us find focus, both from settling the mind and calming the nervous system as well as finding an outer point of focus. This focus can help us put it all together, connecting feet, ankles, hips and core to build better balance.