STRATEGIES FOR MINDFUL AGING
Three Keys to Improving Your Balance
Reduce falls and remain independent
While walking on an uneven pavement on a Washington DC street, I tripped and went sailing in the air. If I had looked down, I would have noticed the pavement looked like it had been in an earthquake.
As I came down to earth, my arms went out, and I landed on my feet. That happened about 30 years ago. Then, my exercise routine included two Tae Kwon Do classes per week and daily lunchtime walks.
My martial arts training helped me keep my balance. I was lucky. If I slipped on ice, nothing would have worked. After all, I am a martial artist and not Superman.
Now, in my seventies, I teach and practice Tae Kwon Do. Yet, about five years ago, I realized I needed to do more to improve and maintain my balance.
My balance was outstanding when standing only on my right leg, and not so good with my left leg. I wanted to balance well in both situations. And I discovered there was a lot more to balance than I thought. Balance exercises are now a formal part of my exercise program.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (paraphrase),
Unintentional falls are the major cause of injury and deaths from injury…
