A little note on balance (and why it’s not just you)

Balance is one of those things we all need to practice. Some days it feels good, and some days it can be a little more wobbly…

Maybe you’ve noticed that standing on one leg feels harder sometimes, or you feel less steady when moving quickly or on uneven ground. This is incredibly common, and it’s not that you’re doing something “wrong.”

Balance is a skill made up of a few key ingredients working together:

• Strength – particularly in the feet, ankles, hips and core

• Coordination – or how well the body communicates with itself

• Focus and breath – which help keep the nervous system calm and responsive

When we’re tired, stressed, sitting for long periods or moving in repetitive ways, balance is often the first thing to be affected.

Here’s a simple practice you can do to support it day-to-day:

• Stand near a wall, and plant one foot to the floor and come up on to the tip of the big toe of the other foot, bending your knee. Practice a few hip openers (like you’re coming to a tree pose – see the pic above to the left).

• Your big toe can then stay down or you can lift it up so the knee is hip height (keeping it bent – see the pic to the right).

• Your palm can be flat to the wall the whole time, then try come onto your fingertips, then lift one finger at a time away from the wall, knowing it’s just there if you need the support.

Other tips for balance:

1. 1. Keep the movements slow – balance improves when we give the body time to organise itself

   2. Pay attention to your feet – spreading the toes and feeling the ground can make a big difference

   3. Breathe steadily – holding the breath often makes balance harder, not easier

Practices like yoga and Pilates can be especially helpful because they build strength, awareness and control at the same time, rather than isolating just one element. If you’d like to explore this in a supportive way, my yoga and Pilates classes gently weave in balance work that’s practical, accessible and adaptable – embracing all the wobbles.

As always, you’re very welcome to drop in whenever it feels right. I have some new Pilates classes on the timetable now too!