How Is Your Balance?
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: • 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 • Engaging in light weight training at home before work • 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.
In addition to finding your mental balance with how you spend your time, becoming more physically balanced is just as important. 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 physical balance, 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.
You can improve your physical balance by: • Increasing muscle strength • Improving stamina • Improving core strength • Practicing balancing techniques
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 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
Try Green Exercise to Wash Away the Winter Blues
For those of you who have been following our monthly campaign towards a healthier you this year, you know we have been suggesting the addition of one simple thing to enhance your life each month. The month of April signifies the beginning of spring and with it a renewal of a new life cycle. As cold, dark days and monochromatic landscapes transition into a brilliant palette under warming skies, we can’t help but feel a twinge of anticipation. Spring evokes the sentiments of hope and promise. The outdoors are enticing us to get out and literally enjoy a breath of fresh air! Our April challenge is to go outside and take in the excitement of the transformation. It doesn’t have to be an extended trail hike or formal camping trip. Simply enjoy the change of seasons in a natural setting - a stroll in a park, gardening, meander around a lake, or just a walk outside at lunch. Breathe deep and make it a point to notice all the changes occurring in nature. Look at a tree and follow its swaying branch out to the tiny bud getting
ready to emerge. Pay attention to your body movements and rhythms as you engage with your surroundings. Just like the seasons, we must periodically renew our focus and reset our goals. Draw inspiration from nature by reattempting something you were unsuccessful at or by trying something new. The phrase “go for a walk outside to clear my head” has an actual physiological basis. The experience of distancing yourself from a stress-inducing environment has an immediate effect on reducing blood pressure and lowering cortisol, the stress hormone. It facilitates the release of endorphins which have a calming effect. There is also the added benefit of increasing blood flow to the brain, which can promote creative ideas and problem solving. Studies have shown that spending time in a natural environment builds immunity and boosts the production of anti-cancer cells. Not only does walking in nature help with weight management and food cravings, but it is “green exercise”.
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