A recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine revealed a connection between longevity and balance for participants between the ages of 51-75. While the study did not show that poor balance caused death, it did show a correlation between having good balance and living a longer life.
There are many reasons balance is linked to longevity. Without the ability to balance well, we become prone to falls and injury. As a result, we may grow less confident in our own mobility, leading to a decrease in physical activity. From there, physical deterioration can snowball.
Good balance requires both muscle strength and a high-functioning nervous system. The act of simply balancing on one foot requires a tremendous amount of information to be transmitted back and forth between the body and the brain. Practicing balance postures strengthens those lines of communication, promoting increased ability. All that is to say: you can train the body to balance better.
Strengthening the core is essential for improving balance. Think of your core as the muscle systems that most closely support the skeleton. Those deep muscles can be more challenging to access than larger, superficial muscles like biceps and quadriceps. But cultivating a strong, supple core is vital to balance and mobility. Strengthening the feet, ankles, knees and hips is also critical to maintaining our ability to remain upright. All of these joints require balanced muscular support, to maintain healthy function.
The good news is, in yoga and Pilates we can work on core strength and balance in a variety of ways: standing, reclining, prone, upside down or even using a chair. We have classes that can benefit people in a wide variety of circumstances. Engaging in a regular practice is the best way to build and maintain the strength, flexibility and neurological connections needed for a healthy balanced body.
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