Balance

In a week that has seen The Traitors take over, (Celia! Really!), Strictly get better and better and confused roses and geraniums continue to bloom, over here we have been talking balance.

What does balance mean to you? Do you immediately think about standing on one leg or does your mind wander to the 80/20 approach about treats versus healthy eating? Maybe you are thinking about downtime versus work and commitments, They are all relevant and very important so let's have a look.

We have done quite a bit of balance work in our classes over the last couple of weeks. Standing movement that helps us to better understand how we can connect to our centre and move more freely and with more confidence.  One of the "expected" ageing issues is a decline in our balance but why on earth would we accept that? I feel SO passionately about this as with reduced balance, we tend to move with more caution, possibly start to avoid activities that we have enjoyed which may then impact on us socially which can affect our self confidence and so it goes on. Why on EARTH accept that?

With a few minutes a day, you can do a couple of simple challenges that will help your brain and muscular and skeletal systems communicate more efficiently, help with spacial awareness and improve your balance dramatically. I know of one person who told me he always stood on one leg to brush his teeth and then brushed his teeth with the "wrong" hand - I can't comment on the state of his teeth but his balance was terrific!

Everyday simple moves can help without the need to start planning time to "do your balance exercises" - try to walk up and down the stairs without holding the rail, try to get up and down from a chair without using your hands - when you go up the stairs, try to move really slowly and pause on each step with one foot raised - coming down is even more of a challenge BUT is hugely beneficial in building posterior strength and decreasing the risk of falls (most falls are on the way down, not up) - please try without your hands OR pausing on the steps before you combine both, and perhaps one to practise at home - if you do this in a public place you may well upset people queueing behind you !!

If you do find you have 5 mins while you are waiting for the potatoes to boil, then maybe stand on one leg or do the tightrope exercise (we have done a few versions of this - if you are not sure, I will post on instagram early next week or you can get in touch for how to do)  but please, never accept a decline in your strength, balance and mobility as "just my age" - that, my dear friends is just an excuse!

n.b. Pilates is the perfect choice for improving balance and coordination.

If we eat rubbish, we get fat, lethargic and feel rubbish. This we know so to adapt an 80:20 rule to our diet is something we are all aware of, "A little of what you fancy does you good" is indeed true - a little, not every day! During lockdown my treats became my everyday and guess what? I got fat, felt awful and had to work incredibly hard to turn that ship around (well, more of an ocean liner, truth be told!)  Never again....Finding balance in life with what we put on our plates and in our glass takes discipline but adhered to, will only enhance our feelings of health and wellness.

The balance of exercise and rest is something I have talked about in the last couple of blogs. Ideally we will mix up some Pilates with some weights and strength work with some outdoor activity with some stretching and mobilisation but THE BEST form of exercise is the one you enjoy! That is the one you are most likely to stick to.

The work life balance is not something I can currently comment on as I would be a total hypocrite! I am fully aware that my balance in this area is hugely tipped but again, will be addressed in due course and I don't need to spell out to anyone here how important this area is - you may be juggling work with raising a young family or perhaps you are dashing up and down the motorway to elderly parents. Perhaps your work is taking over your life and friends and family are being neglected.

So how is the balance in your life? What areas might you need to give some time and attention to?  Last week I talked about our body being like a department store (John Lewis for me!) and how some areas worked too hard while others don't work enough - well take that analogy to your life. Perhaps some departments need to take some annual leave and others could do with a little weekend overtime to catch up.

I am a hypocrite and have actually started a planner on better time management so currently that department knows is is short staffed and working too hard but has set some simple objectives and is looking at it's short, medium and long term goals!!

Either which way - please DO NOT ACCEPT FAILING BALANCE. It is NEVER too late to start.