STAYING ACTIVE + BETTER BALANCED
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to do at home, like the dishes or the laundry. Then really think about how much time you are spending doing the things that make you feel better — including those hobbies that you love, but also being active and engaging with the people you care about. Part of becoming a more balanced person means finding ways to spend your time more wisely and taking more time for yourself as needed. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE You don’t need to grow up as an athlete to enjoy exercise as an adult. There is no point in your life where it is too late to start being more active than you currently are. There are plenty of ways to incorporate light activity into your lifestyle, such as:
Think about the last time that you sat down with a book that you loved and made yourself a cup of tea or coffee and really enjoyed the moment. Perhaps it isn’t reading that you wish you had more time for, but instead it is a garden that has grown weeds as it has been neglected. It could be a project at your home that you have looked forward to completing or an old car that you’ve wanted to fix up. There are special hobbies and interests that appeal to each of us, and spending time with those hobbies can help you live a more balanced life. Alongside with the task of becoming more mentally balanced with the things that you spend time with in your life is the challenge of becoming more physically balanced. There are certain markers that typically indicate trouble with maintaining balance, such as frequently tripping and falling or feeling dizzy when standing too long. But even if you are not having fundamental issues with your ability to stay balanced in this way, you may still have difficulty with whole-body balance. Yoga is a great form of exercise to use to improve your ability to balance, as yoga helps to strengthen core muscles and improve coordination.
• Taking a walk in the evening with your family
• Wearing a pedometer and trying to take more steps every day
• Joining your local community center and using the pool to swim laps several times a week
You can improve your physical balance by:
• Engaging in light weight training at home before work
• Increasing muscle strength • Improving stamina
• Improving core strength • Practicing balancing techniques
• Taking a yoga class
These are just several examples of how you could incorporate more activity into your lifestyle without making many large changes to your way of life. If you feel that your physical health or an old injury is holding you back from being active, contact us. Working with a physical therapist can help you achieve improved balance and a healthy lifestyle. Learn more by calling 425.576.8180 or visiting eastsidesportsrehab.com today!
In addition, taking steps to ensure that you are getting a full night of rest, that you are exercising regularly, and that you are eating a healthy diet are all strong components to ensuring you are well-balanced. Think about the percentage of time that you spend working during the week. For most people this number is well over 40 hours per week! Then consider how much time is spent driving to and from work and around town on errands, and then consider the time spent doing things you have
EXERCISE ESSENTIALS Perform This Exercise To Relieve Neck Pain
REDEEM THIS COUPON FOR A FREE CONSULTATION! Call Eastside Sports & Rehabilitation at 425.576.8180 or visit our website at eastsidesportsrehab.com to schedule! “got pain?”
CERVICAL RETRACTIONS Stand with your back against a wall. Position a rolled up towel behind your neck. Tuck chin like you are nodding ‘yes’. Draw your chin closer to the back of your throat. Repeat 3 times.
Alwaysconsultyourphysical therapistorphysicianbefore starting exercises you areunsure ofdoing.
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