Sept 24 Weekly Challenge: Balancing Act
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themedalist
Posts: 3,215 Member
Theme: Exercise and Movement
Challenge: Balancing Act
This week, let's focus on improving our balance. Better balance improves coordination, joint stability, agility, reaction time, and prevents falls and fractures. Balance is a core asset to our health and fitness and one that is frequently overlooked. As one balance proponent observed, "What is strength or endurance worth without the balance and stability to use them in the real world?"
Until a few years ago I never really thought about the importance of doing balance exercises. And then one evening, out walking in my backyard, I tripped over a tree stump and fell. In that 30 second fall, I permanently damaged my right hip and lost the ability to walk easily and without pain. I was lucky enough to get a new artificial hip a few months later, but the experience changed my perceptions about balance, coordination, and accident avoidance. I never would have believed that I could do so much damage from such a simple fall, but millions of people are similarly injured (some fatally) from slips and falls in their homes and outdoors.
We CAN improve our balance and coordination. Let's set aside a few minutes each day this week to do some balance exercises. You never know when, in just the right moment, it will pay off for you in a very big way.
This Week's Challenge: Choose from among the resources below the beginner, advanced, or yoga-based balance exercises that are best for you. Although no special equipment is required to do balance exercises, I'm putting in a plug for the wobble board, which I've used quite a lot. (I am slightly obsessed with my wobble board).
Make it a great week!
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Suggested Resources:
Beginner exercises for balance:
https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/beginner-exercises-for-balance-15-minute-beginner-balance-workout
Advanced balance exercises:
https://www.verywell.com/advanced-balance-exercises-2696235
Yoga poses for better balance:
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/fall-yoga-15-poses-proven-build-better-balance
Yoga for balance and brain benefits:
http://annwestyoga.com/yoga-for-balance-brain-benefits/
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Our monthly challenge, This September I will..., continues! Please tell us how you are progressing and how it's going for you!
Challenge: Balancing Act
This week, let's focus on improving our balance. Better balance improves coordination, joint stability, agility, reaction time, and prevents falls and fractures. Balance is a core asset to our health and fitness and one that is frequently overlooked. As one balance proponent observed, "What is strength or endurance worth without the balance and stability to use them in the real world?"
Until a few years ago I never really thought about the importance of doing balance exercises. And then one evening, out walking in my backyard, I tripped over a tree stump and fell. In that 30 second fall, I permanently damaged my right hip and lost the ability to walk easily and without pain. I was lucky enough to get a new artificial hip a few months later, but the experience changed my perceptions about balance, coordination, and accident avoidance. I never would have believed that I could do so much damage from such a simple fall, but millions of people are similarly injured (some fatally) from slips and falls in their homes and outdoors.
We CAN improve our balance and coordination. Let's set aside a few minutes each day this week to do some balance exercises. You never know when, in just the right moment, it will pay off for you in a very big way.
This Week's Challenge: Choose from among the resources below the beginner, advanced, or yoga-based balance exercises that are best for you. Although no special equipment is required to do balance exercises, I'm putting in a plug for the wobble board, which I've used quite a lot. (I am slightly obsessed with my wobble board).
Make it a great week!
...............................................................................................
Suggested Resources:
Beginner exercises for balance:
https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/beginner-exercises-for-balance-15-minute-beginner-balance-workout
Advanced balance exercises:
https://www.verywell.com/advanced-balance-exercises-2696235
Yoga poses for better balance:
https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/fall-yoga-15-poses-proven-build-better-balance
Yoga for balance and brain benefits:
http://annwestyoga.com/yoga-for-balance-brain-benefits/
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Our monthly challenge, This September I will..., continues! Please tell us how you are progressing and how it's going for you!
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Replies
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And it's Move It Monday! Post your Monday workout here:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10637806/move-it-monday-weekly-challenge2 -
I’m currently working on balance exercises assigned by the physical therapist so I will continue with those twice a day. I’d like to try the beginner 15 minute set when I get released from restrictions.
Lack of Balance has caused many injuries to my knees and hip so I know I need much work in this area!1 -
Great post! Thanks! Will look into these links and get started.
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Balance is so important as we age to stay functionaI and avoid falls. I know that my balance has improved since I started getting fit, but I'm still not great with my balance.
This week I'll try incorporating the balance yoga flows into my yoga workouts, although some of the moves are pretty tough (again because my balance is not great). Balance is actually one of the big challenges in doing Yoga for me.2 -
I personally know the benefits of having balance. I have worked on this for over a year now. I am a klutz and trip over literally nothing but air. In the past any trip would result in an injury or face plant. I still trip...it's what I do...but you should see how can successfully nail a landing! Yoga and Qigong are what have given me balance and strength. I have always had "chicken legs" and now I am the proud owner of strong and muscular legs.
I will continue to work on my balance even more so for this challenge. I have a lot of room for improvement.6 -
I went to yoga yesterday and really pushed myself on the balancing poses. This morning we had to do some weights bending forward on one leg and I went as far as I could.4
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I'm very happy to hear that this week's challenge resonates with you. None of us ever expect to fall, but we can do a lot of damage.1
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I’ve been using my wobble board this week and I like it. It’s funny how for a few minutes after I get off of it I still have the sensation that I’m on it.
I need to use my wobble board more often!4 -
I held tree pose on my left leg yesterday for 2 minutes. I was wobbly but did it. My ankle on my right leg has not been the same since I got it caught in a hole on the golf course earlier this summer. I did not try tree pose on the right.
I have upped my leg circles on both sides ( 25 per leg) and it has helped with my piriformis muscle pain. I had no idea that these would help.4 -
I held tree pose on my left leg yesterday for 2 minutes. I was wobbly but did it. My ankle on my right leg has not been the same since I got it caught in a hole on the golf course earlier this summer. I did not try tree pose on the right.
I have upped my leg circles on both sides ( 25 per leg) and it has helped with my piriformis muscle pain. I had no idea that these would help.
2 minutes in Tree pose! WOW! I'm lucky to stay in for 30 seconds!3 -
I worked on balance during therapy yesterday and was in so much pain I had to wear heating pads on my legs all night! UGH. Too much too quickly I think.2
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PackerFanInGB wrote: »I worked on balance during therapy yesterday and was in so much pain I had to wear heating pads on my legs all night! UGH. Too much too quickly I think.
So sorry, @PackerFanInGB ! Hope today you get some pain relief.
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PackerFanInGB wrote: »I worked on balance during therapy yesterday and was in so much pain I had to wear heating pads on my legs all night! UGH. Too much too quickly I think.
Ouch! Not good. I hope your legs are feeling better!1 -
Take it easy please @PackerFanInGB1
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Hooray @PinkyPan11
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So I’ve done my nightly yoga practice every evening this month and tonight will make it an even 30. Just a few minutes of yoga stretches has been a great prelude to bed. I am definitely sleeping better. This will be something I take forward and make a nightly practice. It’s been very beneficial.2
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Nice job everyone! So many of you were able to create or find an area to focus on and did great!
I didn’t do so well with meditating each day, but I plan to continue looking for ways to incorporate it into my daily routine. Even if sometimes it’s “walking meditation”...(been doing some research! 😉).
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