I have been teaching yoga for balance in both my online and in-person yoga classes for the last almost two months. During that time we looked at the different elements that help us keep our balance.
Naturally, we focused on strengthening certain muscle groups that are essential for walking, shifting and holding the weight on one leg, standing and moving in more challenging ways. We also explored how our eyesight, feet agility and meeting our basic needs are connected to the way we balance. And we acknowledged that the more balanced we are to begin with, in our bodies but emotionally and mentally as well, the better we can meet the stuff that will tend to push us off balance. So we have done a lot of focused work and that’s absolutely great. But the fact is that every yoga class helps us to move in a more coordinated way and brings us back to balance. Here is why:
Joints
All movement in the human body is linked via a kinetic chain in the joints. Which means that a series of joints contribute to the movement. If you have to reach for a glass of water for example, then you have to use your finger joints, your wrist, your elbow, your shoulder. All these joints contribute to that reaching for the glass. And if one of the joints can’t move in its full range of motion, then the other joints have to compensate, to do more to make up for it.
Yoga improves the mobility of our joints which helps distribute the work in a better way. For example, if the hips are not moving enough, the next joints down and up the chain are the knees and the low back. By mobilising the hips we will prevent the knees and the lumbar spine being overworked and strained. Furthermore, we will achieve more freedom in the way we move and allow for better coordination between these joints.
Muscles
Even the simplest movement requires teamwork – lifting a finger implies cooperative activity between a prime mover (it contracts to create the movement), a stabiliser (it contracts to prevent unwanted movement), and the antagonist muscle (it relaxes to allow the movement). No matter how fit or capable the individual muscles are, if they are not coordinated as a team, the movement will not occur at all.
And that’s one of the great things about yoga – it does not work on isolated muscles. Unlike traditional strength training, which often focuses on isolating specific muscle groups, yoga takes a holistic approach. Instead of targeting individual muscles, yoga poses require the coordinated effort of various muscle groups to maintain balance and alignment.
The body-mind connection
In my classes we always pay close attention to what is happening in our bodies as we move. And the reason for it is that body awareness is essential for better movement. All movement is controlled by the nervous system and can be restricted or enabled depending on many factors. For example, how much we move, how we feel about that particular movement, how familiar it is, how confident we are and so on.
By introducing novel ways to move, exploring our strengths and our limits with focus and awareness we enhance our nervous system’s tolerance and resilience and improve the connection between our brain and our body.
In summery
Yoga can help improve coordination by strengthening the mind-body connection and training the body to move in a synchronised way. Some benefits of practicing yoga include:
- Improved balance
- Better proprioception, which is the sense of where your body is in space
- Increased body control and accuracy of movement
- Improved focus and concentration.
- Reduced risk of injury and falls
- Improved posture
Related articles:
What is Parasitic Tension and How to Start Getting Rid of It
Are You Balancing Well: How Yoga Can Help You Remain Steady As You Age
Photo by GMB Fitness on Unsplash
