Balance is the ability to control your body as it moves through space. Simply defined, it’s the ability to sustain your equilibrium when you’re either stationary or moving.
For example, when you go for a nature walk or hike, at first, you’d spend a lot of time watching the footpath, to avoid tripping.
But after a while, you learn to adjust to the terrain by the ‘feel’ of your feet, thereby increasing your balance through proprioception (the sensory information that contributes to the sense of position of self and movement).
Test balance
To test your balance, try standing on one leg for 30 seconds and then switch and try it on the other leg. You’ll probably find that you’re better at balancing on one leg compared to the other.
Then, to recreate the balance required when you encounter an unstable surface, like lumpy grass, try standing on one leg again, but this time use a soft surface such as a foam pad or balance disc. To further spice up the challenge, try performing both of these exercises with your eyes closed. 0
As this sequence suggests, balance training is progressive. Once you’re able to maintain stability, new challenges are needed to further adapt.
Regain
Movements that take place on one leg at a time, like walking and running, involve constantly losing your balance and then regaining it.
The quicker you can regain it, the safer the movement becomes. If you watch sports like basketball or rugby, you’ll notice that the better athletes in these activities appear as though they never lose their balance.
It is not that they aren’t constantly losing their balance; they just regain it so quickly that no one notices.
Athletes who appear to have perfected their art of balance have learned to maintain their stability while rapidly responding to the changes in their environment.
With practice, you can also perfect your balance while working out.
Photo: www.gettyimages.com