Balance Exercises to Try at Home

Here are some suggestions for playing with balance this month:

First, practice balancing on two feet in Mountain Pose. Once you are settled and standing tall (abdominal wall drawn in slightly), lean/sway forward toward the balls of your feet and your toes. Pause for a few breaths. Return to center. Now, lean slightly back, weight moving into your heels. Pause for a few breaths. Come back to the center. Lean to the right, pause, return to center. Lean to the left, pause, return to center. Keep your body like a board through the entire practice. When you are finished, shake the body out and relax.

Balance not only on your feet, but also on hands and knees. Give Birddog a try. Come to all fours (table position). Hug your belly in and take your right leg back behind you, toes to the floor. Walk your left fingers forward arm straight. You might stay here or lift your arm and leg to hip/shoulder height reaching in opposite directions. To add more balance work, round your spine (like a cat) and draw your elbow to your knee and then out again.

Start crawling. Yes, just like that toddler learning to move, crawling is an excellent form of balance work. Start on all fours with your head looking at the horizon and get moving. Go backwards and forwards you can even play with going sideways.