Balance Exercises

Whether you're recovering from an injury or developing your overall strength, balance exercises have the capabilities to provide you with well-rounded fitness, coordination, and help to stay active.
The most integral part of balance exercises is the interaction between your mind and soul through various movements. Your eyes, ears, muscles, and joints are all connected to the brain, which means your body has to make required adjustments according to each movements you make. To obtain perfect alignment, the body actually readjusts itself to keep that balance and make you more efficient so that you use less muscles throughout the activity. A more technical term for in balance is called proprioception. When you gain perfect proprioception, your body has the sensibility to understand where your body is in space and how it should react. Undergoing balance exercises and training, no matter what your age may be, you gain the opportunity to improve the communication between your mind and body, and hence, improve your balance.

Balance Exercises for Vertigo

A person suffering from vertigo feels an illusion of dizziness or sudden motion. The feeling appears to be similar to being seasick and that the surroundings are spinning or falling. The feeling of being nauseas and want to throw up is very common with vertigo. If you suffer from vertigo, then perform the following exercises to bring back the balance you're looking for.

Eyes: To perform the balance exercises for your eyes, look up and down for about 20 times. Next, look from one side to the other for another 20 times. The final exercise starts with holding one finger in front of your eyes at a distance. Focus on the finger, slowly move the finger closer to you and back to starting position for about 20 times. Start slowly and then try to speed it up, but only if you feel comfortable.

Head: Keep your eyes open for all the head exercises. Bend your head forward and backward for about 20 times. To perform the second exercise, turn your head from one side to the other for about 20 times (as if you are saying no). For the final exercise, once you start to feel less dizzy, repeat both the exercises while keeping your eyes closed. Start slowly and then try to speed it up, but only if you feel comfortable.

Chair: This next workout is a perfect example of balance exercises for seniors. While sitting in the chair, shrug your shoulders about 20 times. To mix it up a bit, turn them to the right side and then the left side for about 20 times. As an extension to this workout, bend down towards the floor (as if you are trying to pick something up) and then return to the sitting position. Repeat this exercise 20 times.

Balance Exercises for Runners

Athletes are always on the lookout for better, more effective balancing exercises to improve themselves. To gain maximum strength, flexibility, and overall structure, balance exercises for athletes is a must.

Exercise Band: As your starting position, stand with keeping all your weight on the left leg. Bend the knee a bit and hold the band in your right hand. Keep the elbow completely extended, quickly pull the band with your left hand and then pull it down across your body. It will look as if you are trying to throw something on the floor. Keep your weight on the left leg and repeat this movement at least 20 times and then change the sides. Read more on resistance band exercises.

Walking Lunges: While performing the walking lunges, majority of your muscles in the body get the workout and feel maintaining balance, stability, and power. You can also add some weight to make the workout more intense. Hold an overhead weight while you're performing the walking lunges. First start without the weights and then once you are comfortable and don't feel dizzy, add a light bar or 5 lb weights to the exercise.

Simple Squats: Stand in front of the stairs and stand about 2 feet away from it. Place your left on the first stair, balance it, and raise your right foot off the floor. While your right foot is up, bend the left knee, and bring your torso down. Come forward and touch the stairs with your right hand (or as close as you can get). Make sure you don't lose your balance and both your right leg and right arm is extended. Hold the position for few seconds and come back to starting position. Repeat the exercise for about 10 times and then change the sides. Read more on squats without weights.

Balance Exercises for Kids

When you talk about exercising in front of kids, not many of them return the same kind of enthusiasm that comes from the parents. With child obesity risk elevating day by day, regular exercising is very important for kids. So what can parents do to "trick" them into working out? Why not merge the balance exercises with some fun activities. So, instead of purchasing new video games for your kid(s), give them:
Aerobic Squidgie Disc - Looks similar to frisbees; great as water sports.
Trampoline - Trampoline exercises are perfect fun activity that integrates exercise with sport.
Snowboard or Surfboard - Depending on where you live, both the activities are perfect for balancing.
Jump Rope - Skipping rope exercises are beneficial and effective for complete balance.
Ski Machine - Stationary ski machine workout; perfect for kids who can also learn skiing.
For additional balance exercises, go to:
Exercise Ball Workouts
Exercise Programs
Balance exercises help you decrease the risk of injury (no matter what you might be doing during the day) and improve your overall performance. Balanced strength and flexibility help you maintain a good, balanced lifestyle, for now and in the future.