Balance is something many of us take for granted—until it becomes challenging. Practicing balance exercises regularly can help improve stability, reduce the risk of falls, and support overall confidence in daily activities. Two simple ways to challenge your balance are practicing balance exercises with your eyes closed and moving your head while maintaining balance.
Why Practice Balance With Your Eyes Closed?
When your eyes are open, vision plays a major role in helping you stay upright. Closing your eyes removes that visual input and encourages your body to rely more on other systems, including:
- Your inner ear (vestibular system), which helps sense movement and position
- Your muscles and joints (proprioception), which tell your brain where your body is in space
Practicing balance with your eyes closed can:
- Improve body awareness
- Strengthen balance reactions
- Enhance stability in low-light or visually challenging environments
Why Add Head Movements?
Turning your head side to side or up and down while balancing challenges your vestibular system even more. In real life, we constantly move our heads—while walking, driving, shopping, or talking. Training balance with head movements helps your body stay steady during everyday tasks.
- Benefits include:
- Improved coordination between head and body
- Better balance while walking and turning
- Increased confidence during movement
Safety First
- Always perform balance exercises near a wall, chair, or counter
- Start slowly and progress at your own pace
- If you feel unsteady, dizzy, or uncomfortable, stop and rest
Here are the links to 5 of the 5 Minute Better your Balance exercise videos on YouTube
Week 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZxJwsHDmk8
Week 2: https://youtu.be/NQyg1RC1ZJw?si=sidcJxsgz-I8Ne3Q
Week 3: https://youtu.be/CGrvVLB4f4k?si=Sye_BFkYZnoTGnr0
Week 4: https://youtu.be/_8LT5Jz8mug?si=nGaTmQMlcsV0BC_K
Week 5: https://youtu.be/f65Bfr-Pxu8?si=8JL3QONyXKPmKp5A
I hope you enjoy the balance exercises and if you have any questions please let me know!