How to Improve Your Balancing Poses?

Practise Anywhere & Everywhere (safely!)

This week we'll be looking at an element of yoga that can be a hot topic, "how to improve your balancing poses."

Second to, "I'm not flexible enough" a person's biggest excuse for not starting yoga is, "I'm terrible at balancing". Like most things in life, this is not a fact and can be changed at any age or stage.

In yoga we have two main styles of balances which are arm balances and leg balances. Balancing poses in yoga can vary from bird- dog to side planks to headstand to the ever popular tree pose. The beauty of yoga is you can aim to achieve any one of these poses at any point in your life. You may never have the goal to headstand, but you can still balance through bird-dog.

We're going to look at the physical benefits of improved balance, reasons your balance might need improved and how to improve it.

Benefits of Improved Balance

Decreased risks of falls

Decreased risk of injuries & illness

Improved posture

Improved Coordination

Links between improved balance and cognitive brain function

Like everything in fitness and movement balance is linked and works with coordination and core strength. Improvements in one of these areas, will aid the others and improve your safety and comfort in your body as a whole. Whilst it can be challenging, you do owe it to yourself to have the healthiest and strongest body you can.

Causes of Poor Balance

A decrease in balance can be caused by a multitude of reasons, many of which are completely out of your control. Ranging from inner ear issues, hormones to age related illness's. That being said, some are within our control or we can have an element of power in making small improvements in our balance, regardless of the causes. It may not always be to the same effect as your old balance, but it is still balance nonetheless. One element that can decrease our balance is simply not practising. People can often get frustrated in yoga, unable to achieve a balancing pose they could once do- but if you haven't practised in 5 weeks, your muscle memory and strength will not be there. Whilst you do not need to give yourself a hard time, acknowledgement is required.

How to Improve Your Balance

Firstly, if you notice pain in your balances or your very off centre, this could be a chance to investigate and seek professional support. This could be due to injury or arthritic changes, but further investigation is important and balances can often be a good chance to notice this.

In yoga within balance we look at a concept called "Drishti" (focus), this is the idea of drawing your focus to one point and therefor limiting distractions to your mind. This tactic can be used to feel more stable in your balancing postures.

Building up core strength- strong glutes, back, abs and thighs will only help with your stability in these poses.

Another tip is building up ankle, foot and wrist strength. We often put so much emphasis on core strength that we forget that your whole body is working together. Gentle foot and ankle activation stretches can be great before balancing poses. Wrist and hand activation before certain arm balances. People can often struggle through tree pose, if they have weak ankles. However this can be improved through mindful practise.

Practise, Practise and Practise!! Sadly the expression, "If you do not use it, you'll lose it" does apply here. The only way that you will ever learn and improve on yoga poses is through a continues and regular practise. Whilst life does happen, the more yoga classes missed or the less done in between and the longer it will take to master these poses and to feel the benefits of improved balance. Every time you debate skipping a class or don't roll your mat out, please remember that it's a weeks delay on getting to that pose or feeling a little stronger in your body. That being said, if you start to experience aches or pains rest and looking into it is important.

Finally, in yoga there is a element of Aparigraha, "non-attachment". This is practising but without holding onto the end goal or detaching from it. It's quite a complex concept and deserves it's own post. To put it simply the more stressed and obsessed you become to holding that balance, the further away it may seem sometimes. If you trust in the moment and your ability without forcing it and simply allowing it to come, the "easier" (still very hard) the pose might feel. I'm sure we've all experienced that clenched jaw and frustrated feeling as we grapple at the poses and wonder why we cant hold it. But by taking a breath and trusting the process, the easier it might feel. It's worth noting that this idea of non- attachment does work in hand with discipline and a constant practise.

We hope you've found this helpful, and that you can have fun practising your balancing in anyway that you see fit. Balancing is a fun way to bring yourself to the moment whilst improving strength and coordination. Feel free to comment or message with any balancing poses that you would love to try or enjoy doing! My personal favourites are side plank, wild thing and big toe to hand.

With Love, Yes to Being Fit