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Developing balance and stability helps prevent falls that may lead to injury and also supports a balanced body “platform” that is easier on your joints. There are many exercise that can help develop balance and stability, and it seems that instructor Katie Hutchins has most of them in her toolkit for the Balance & Stability class on Tuesdays at 10:00 am!

The Balance & Stability class offers a mix of seated and standing movements. Chairs are available during standing movements for additional support. A few sample movements from Katie’s “balance snacks”:

• Move from sitting in a chair to a standing position. Repeat several times.
• While standing, shift slowly from one foot to the other. You may do this by shifting your weight, or by lifting one foot while still maintaining weight on your toes, or by lifting a foot into the air while balancing on the other foot. Again, a chair may be used as a balance aid. A countertop may also be used.
• Clock touches. From a standing position next to a chair back (hip to chair back), hold the back. Imagine the face of a clock. With your left hip against the chair back and weight in your left leg, swing your right leg slowly to tap noon, 3, 6 and 7 (your right leg stretches behind your left leg). With your right hip against the chair back and weight in your right leg, swing your left leg to noon, 9, 6 and 5).

Katie recommends 1 to 3 sets of 10 repetitions of each. Practice regularly and your balance and stability will improve.

Waiting for your coffee to brew? Do a balance snack! In line at the store? Do a balance snack!