On one leg

I swim three times a week at the local pool. Yesterday, after a terrific morning of my usual lap routine I was getting dressed in the locker room. That day I decided to wear my skinny black jeans vs. my usual practical wide leg jeans.

There were no benches dry enough to sit on so I stood by a locker and got one leg in. Bravo! Then I started to put my second leg in. I teetered and tottered, my foot stuck in my pants, and over I fell. Oh brother!

Embarrassing yes but if you’ve ever seen a shower locker room floor you know it’s wet and well…icky to say the least.

This got me thinking. Not how can I share my clumsiness with you but rather how sometimes no matter what you do stuff happens. Maybe you go too fast like I was, maybe you’re not paying attention or maybe you just get shoved or a gust of wind blows you down.

The ability for your body to adapt to changes in your environment is important for balance and the health of your body.

I teach this a lot. And we practice this in every session we do together whether I mention it or not. The health of the joints of your legs, the ability for you to shift your weight over each leg as you walk, for your head to shift and your chest and trunk to shift for balance is really important. All these things help keep you from injury.

How can you help your body to adapt?

Here’s a short movement sequence you can easily do at home to help your balance.

1. Sit on a hard chair a bit forward, with your feet on the ground.

2. Shift your weight from one side of your butt to the other.

Stop and sit in the middle. Pause.  Are you in the middle or is there more weight on one side or the other?  No need to change anything just observe.

3. Put your right hand on top of your head and leave it there.

4. Shift your weight onto the left side of your butt then return to the middle. Do it three times slowly. (don’t let your hand slide on your head.  You elbow is free to move)

Stop, put your arm down and pause.

5. Right hand on head again, shift your weight over the right side of your butt. 3 times

Stop. Rest.

Things for you to notice:

• Does your elbow move toward the ceiling as you shift your weight?
• Do your ribs fold on the left side and open on the right?
• Are you breathing?

Rest for a moment.

You can then reverse the directions and do the same on the other side.

In case you’re wondering about my locker room butt dive… I got up from the floor and I wasn’t injured though I did have a bruised ego and butt.

Want more guidance?

• Registration is now open for the Spring term of my semi-private program.

Sessions begin April 5th

Do you do better with individual treatment?

• one-on-one sessions may be what you need.

Not sure what you need?

Contact me to set up a free 15 minute phone consultation and we can figure it out together.