Feeling a little off balance? You’re not alone – we’ve all been there. Maybe you’re putting in too many hours at the grindstone? Or life’s just feeling like too much to handle right now?
Whatever the reason is, it’s time to discover fully the importance of balance.
Everything in our lives should come down to this one point – finding balance in all areas. This includes both physical health and mental well-being. We’ll be focusing on the physical here.
Yes, it can be challenging to maintain physical balance as we age. But luckily, there are plenty of things we can do to improve it. Certain physical activities strengthen our bodies, sharpen our senses, and increase physical balance.
Let’s take this time to appreciate the power of balance in our lives and find ways to restore it!
Weighing Up The Importance of Balance
Living a balanced life should always be a goal, and it’s never too late to start. Maintaining a healthy balance isn’t just about standing stable in one place. It’s also about learning how to move because the wrong posture can lead to injuries.
Regular physical activity should be beneficial in such a regard. It can reduce the risk of injuries while promoting positive health outcomes.
To boost your endurance, strength, and flexibility, let balance exercises become part of your daily routine. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your level of activity is – working on balance can make you feel better!
Let’s explore the advantages of having good balance.
Injury Prevention
Having a good sense of balance helps prevent injury. Balance training can help with regaining good balance. Walking with balance can reduce the risk of ankle sprains amongst other injuries.
Sprains and other injuries happen way more often than they should. Athletes and older folks especially know what we’re talking about here.
But, why does this happen?
The main reason is that the ankle joint supports a lot of our weight during movements. And that’s where good balance comes to the rescue!
It will make your ankles stronger and more stable. At the same time, it will lower the chances of sprains or related injuries. It’s an effective way to prevent falls and hip fractures.
Muscle Group Coordination
As we get older, it’s normal for our muscles to weaken, leading to all sorts of nasty health issues. The most common is arthritis and back pain.
But here is the good news! With regular physical activity focused on balance, you can help maintain your muscle mass and coordination. Taking preventative measures can help you reduce your chances of developing chronic bone and muscle-related conditions.
For example, if you’re having issues with your back, you know how one wrong move can make the pain unbearable.
That’s where good balance is such a benefit. It can help you learn how to move in a way that won’t make things worse.
Performance Enhancement
More recently senior coaches have discovered the benefits of balance for enhancing the performance of individual athletes.
But these benefits can be relevant not just to the elite.
Zipping through the everyday humdrum of life with a new balance-enhanced vigor can be more efficient and even more pleasurable.
Besides, mid-life is the perfect time to enjoy some sporty activities, so don’t lock yourself in the house! Work on your balance to enhance agility, reflexes, and performance.
Having better balance will improve your endurance. It also increases efficiency and makes you stay in top condition for extended periods.
Finally, don’t forget about the importance of a healthy diet and hydration. A balanced nutrition ensures steady energy throughout any physical activity.
Cognitive Benefits
Good balance not only makes you feel more stable, mobile, and flexible it has the potential to boost cognitive function and memory!
There are studies that have been carried out that point directly to improved brain power after using a period of training sessions involving Yoga, Pilates, and especially Tai Chi. These are all great options to include in your weekly routine at a later stage of life.
Focus on your mental balance, too. Don’t put off processing big life changes like retirement or the kids leaving home. It’s time for mindfulness, meditation, or other activities that help reduce stress levels.
Balance Confidence
Balance confidence is an interesting one. During the research I did for this article I found of way of describing something that I had been aware of for some time.
If a person has had a number of incidents where they have either fallen or been caught out by an obstacle he/she may be wary about their ability to carry out some activity without falling over again.
They may also have no faith in recovering during a “near-fall” incident, innately knowing that their body is physically untrained to recover from the trip or slip.
And as for landing safely! There is no confidence in landing without causing painful and debilitating injury. Or even getting up independently.
This lack of balance confidence or anxiety about falling is self-perpetuating.
Confidence in one’s balance needs to be maintained or asserted. Balance training will help get the equilibrium back.
How can I improve my balance at home?
There are many simple exercises you can do at home to improve your balance, such as standing on one foot, walking heel-to-toe, or doing yoga poses like tree pose or warrior III.
What are some common signs that I may be off balance?
If you feel unsteady on your feet or have trouble maintaining good posture, these could be signs that you have balance issues.
What causes balance problems in mid-life women?
Certain changes that come with mid-life can cause some serious balance issues. Vision blurriness, decreased muscle strength, and neurological problems are the most common.
What should I do if I experience dizziness or vertigo?
If you’re experiencing dizziness or vertigo, it’s important to talk to your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. In some cases, the doctor may recommend medication or physical therapy.
Over To You
And that’s it! We hope you now have all the answers to “why balance is important” and how you can improve it.
If you want to look and feel your best, stay on top of your physical and emotional balance. Keeping fit and stable will not only make you healthy but also give you that mid-life glow!
Don’t miss out on the opportunities life gives you – improve your balance and live it up!
