In early May we talked about the importance of good balance for safe hiking, as well as its role in many other activities.
Now more evidence of the importance of maintaining balance as we age. According to Dr. Larry Dian, a well-known Vancouver Geriatrician, an important part of healthy aging for individuals 75 and older should include exercises and activities that help maintain good balance and flexibility.
How many of us continue to hop on one foot after the age of 4 or 5? Well maybe we should have because hopping requires balance and coordination and not being able to hop easily can be indicative of balance difficulties.
Try this short hopping sequence and hop for health:
- Stand on the floor with your feet hip width apart. Notice the weight distribution in each foot.
- Shift your pelvis to the left until all of your weight is on your left foot. Bend your right leg and lift it.
- Raise your left heel a little from the floor, transferring weight onto the ball of your foot. Then lower it, hitting the floor firmly with your heel. Repeat a few times until it feels easy to hop onto your heel while maintaining your balance. Make the bounces small and gradually make them quicker and lighter.
- Stop and pause for a moment.
- Shift your pelvis to the right, lift your left leg and hop on your right heel.
- Can you sense which side is easier?
- Hop a few times quickly on the easier side and after stopping for a moment hop again on the other side.
Our classes continue until the end of June. Please check out our schedule on line and drop in to a class. In a #Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement class we explore how to move with greater ease and efficiency so we can continue to enjoy our daily and leisure activities.
