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Lynne Brick's Fit Tips ArchiveLynne Brick's Fit Tip #15, 2008 —
Balance!
(Please click here to view the video that accompanies this fit tip!)
Balance is one of the first things you lose as you get older.
Why?
Like many changes that occur as a result of the aging process, your joints become weak and your muscles atrophy. After the age of 30, you lose 1/2 pound of muscle every year, just from the aging process. The name of this disorder is sarcopenia. Years ago we just called it "old age".
Muscle loss means loss of strength which can lead to osteoporosis, fatigue, injury and other debilitating diseases. Balance training, one the "hottest" ways to train these days, is a fabulous way to help you to strengthen your bones, joints and muscles from the inside-out!
(Please click here to view the video that accompanies this fit tip!)
Tips to help you BALANCE:
- Start with great posture. Knees over your toes, knees under your hips, tuck your tailbone, connect the dots between your belly button and your spine, lift your chest, shoulders back and down and place your cheek bone over your collar bone as you align your spine in a line.
- Focus on something steady in front of you.
- Squeeze your core, glut and hip muscles.
- If you lose your balance, simply put your opposite foot down.
- Balance you balance training. Be sure to balance train both sides of your body.
- Relax!
- A woman's center of gravity is just below the belly button, between the hip bones. (A man's center of gravity is in the center of their chest)
- Do balance training daily. Yes, you read that correctly! Daily doses will do your body good!
BALANCE Training Options:
- Stand on one leg, holding onto a chair, table or pole. Lift the other foot off the floor. Let go once you feel stable. If you lose your balance, hold onto the chair, table or pole again.
- Stand on one leg. Don't hold onto anything as you lift the other foot off the floor. If you lose your balance, place your foot back onto the floor. (AKA… a Sobriety Test!)
- Stand on one leg. Lift the other leg and take the opposite leg through different planes of space; front, side and back.
- Stand on one leg on top of an unstable surface such as a half foam roll, a balance board or a BOSU (Both Sides Up) trainer. Be sure to place your foot in the center of the apparatus. Lift the other foot and control your balance utilizing the tips above.
BALANCE your body to help improve your strength as well as your level of health and well-being… forever!
P.S.
Please click here to view the video that describes this fit tip. All you need is a video function. It is "white listed" and not spam.
You Go Girl!
Resources:
www.LynneBricks.com
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