Slips, trips, and falls, OH MY! No one needs that. Stay strong and you’ll minimize the risk. Our favorite balance and core exercise, the Airplane, with a twist, is perfect for the job. We first brought this up in our Dec. 13, 2010 post.
Here’s a reminder on how to begin:
Put your arms out as if you are going to take flight. While standing up straight, pick up one foot and slightly bend the knee of your weight bearing leg. If you need to, in getting started, feel free to touch the toe of your raised foot to floor a time or two until you get centered. When you are balanced and comfortable, bend forward at the hips until your shoulders are parallel to the hips.
Now here’s where we take it up a notch. Rather than holding the pose there, keeping your shoulders square, twist at the hips and touch the floor with directly in front of you. Hold for a count of 2-3 and then twist in the opposite direction, touching the floor with your opposite hand.
Straighten back up and then repeat. Do this 10-20 times and then repeat on the other leg.
Let us know how your balance builds up.