How Pilates Can Help You Have Better Balance Throughout Your Body
Balance is important for injury prevention. Pilates helps you find balance by working with gravity then gradually increasing the challenge against gravity.
Have you ever tried standing on one leg with your eyes closed? This is much harder than when you have your eyes open because we take in information for balance through the eyes first. But how much are you exercising your eyes to have better balance?
You might think it’s unrelated but I can teach you how to use your eyes to get more out of exercise. When you use your eyes intentionally during your workout you can focus more, connect your body better and have better balance as a result. You would be amazed at how much better your body works when you add intentional balance work into your exercise routine.
Exercising the eyes helps you take in more information. You are more alert and can do more with your body. You are connecting the brain to the body and asking it to do things like see a letter or number. Sounds simple right? This is a simple activity, so simple we take these skills for granted and don’t really do things like this until we have to. This is a favorite for many students. You will be amazed at the difference it will make in your everyday life and your Pilates practice.
No matter your age, it’s important to practice balance. Balance, like Push Ups, is something you have to work on. People assume that dancers have natural balance because it looks easy for them. The truth is they spend hours working on balance. Balance is a skill you can always build up, no matter what.
I’ve seen a huge difference in balance, hand eye coordination, reaction time and connection with the rest of the body with all my clients and myself. I’ve got a quick exercise you can do at home to build better balance! You can get it here.
The thing that's astounded me most, is how focusing the eyes during movement helps with imbalance in the body. I've found ways to connect better with one side of the body when one side works harder than the other. When you add this work into your Pilates practice you will feel stronger and more successful with the movement.
You can work on your balance at home with this quick exercise or you can join my online Pilates workshop focusing on balance, starting January 11th Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 AM central time for four weeks. Come see how adding balance work can up level your Pilates practice! Sign up for the workshop here. I’m looking forward to seeing your balance improve!
