This is a million dollar question isn’t it?!
There are so many stressors in our daily lives pulling us here, there and everywhere, always having something else to take care of. It truly gets overwhelming and sends us in a state of imbalance! The key here is to find ways to really come back to the body, to slow it down and understand how balance works.
Below you’ll find different ways to do just that and tips on how to start taking care of yourself and to stay balanced mentally, physically and emotionally.
First thing we want you to understand is that keeping balanced physically takes 3 main reflexes:
1. Our eyes: we have a reflex called our righting reflex that makes sure everything we see is level and we stay upright
2. Our ankle reflex will kick in if it is dark or you can not see. Studies show that if you are able to stand on one leg with your eyes closed for 30 secs, you can significantly reduce the chances of having an ankle sprain.
3. The last major way to catch our balance is at our hips.
If all 3 of these fail, we will fall.
Here are 3 simple ways to practice balance at home:
**** Make sure to practice balance exercises somewhere safe like in front of the kitchen sink or next to a wall. You want to make sure you can grab something sturdy if you feel you are falling. Also please ensure there are no obstacles that you can fall on while practicing balance work *****
1. Standing on One leg with your eyes open
– do this for 30 seconds daily
– If this gets easy stand on a cushion or pillow to make the ground uneven
2. Tandem stance: standing with one foot in front of the other
– do this for 30 secs and then switch feet
– repeat daily
3. Standing on One leg with your eyes closed
– do this for 30 seconds daily
Now that you’ve taken a few minutes to work on your physical balance let’s look at how to stay calm and keep mentally & emotionally balanced:
- Breathe – Taking a pause to bring your attention to your breath will help to calm the central nervous system and bring your awareness to the present moment.
**Make sure you are taking nice deep belly breaths** - Meditate – Take 5 minutes to close your eyes and quiet down the mind. This helps to relax your body and clear your mind of the negative chatter.
**taking just a few moments will make such a difference** - Dance – Moving your body is the best way for you to let go of stress and anxiety. So dance like no one is watching, you’ll thank us for it!
Taking a few minutes throughout your day to really get yourself back into balance will have such an impact on your body, your health and how you show up.
If you are looking for help to find balance in your body & life, our team of therapists are here to help. Let us guide you through your healing, strength and balanced journey by contacting us today!
