So you want to drop those extra pounds? Think the only way to tighten and tone involves hours on a treadmill? Not true. Try some balance exercises for a complete, functional work-out.
Your balance is more important than you might think!
Simply put, incorporating balance exercises into your routine will help you to develop greater control over your body, reduce your risk of injury, and have you looking and feeling better than ever. The science behind all this isn’t that complicated. Think about your normal exercise routine, your body has learned just how much muscle it needs to recruit to accomplish the activity. So, if you raise the stakes for your body and throw it off balance, it will have to adapt.
See, when your body is forced to find its balance a couple of things will happen. First off, in an attempt to maintain/regain balance the body will activate more muscle fibers than normally used. And the more muscles engaged–the bigger the boost to your metabolism.
Using all those extra muscle fibers will not only burn extra calories, it will also develop new neuromuscular connections in your brain; which is just a fancy way of saying that you will experience an increase in your ability to use your muscles. This increase happens because your body learns to utilize deeper muscle resources when moving. The muscle groups that your body relies upon for balance are essential for your day to day activities.
Some of the primary muscle groups that benefit from balance training are muscles that you count on to get through the day. Balance exercises will strengthen the muscles that keep your pelvic tilt aligned, and open up the back muscles of your erector spine so that these smaller muscles known as your: “multifidus” muscles can work. Multifudus muscles are responsible in keeping your back properly aligned. Thus, strong multifidus muscles and: better posture, reduction of lower back pain, increased efficiency of movement.
Another benefit to balance training is that when you are improving your balance you are strengthening your core. Your center of gravity is a muscle set that can be thought of as a kind of internal girdle belt, it’s called your transverse abdominus (or TVA). Certain core exercises focus on the TVA, such as Pilates. Since the TVA muscles are responsible for tightening up your core the result is that you become more stable and centered.
So if you’re interested in toning up and dropping those extra pounds, try incorporating balance exercises into your routines. The results will far exceed just jumping on the treadmill.
Cody has 12 years experience as a personal trainer. He started his career at the University of Washington as an instructor. He was in charge of running a beginning weightlifting class and was the creator of many new classes because of the demand for his knowledge and leadership skills. From there he trained at a corporate gym while gaining knowledge in the studies of human movement. He now has his own business with numerous pleased and fulfilled clients.
