What Makes You Feel Balanced?

Feeling balanced can mean something different to everyone. However, can you feel steady in your feet or stand on one foot if your mind is unbalanced and it’s thoughts are distracting you? Just as balancing movements can strengthen concentration, stillness in meditation can sturdy your stance. Building balance and stability physically, emotionally, and energetically involves slow, repetitive, controlled movements and challenging dynamic movement, steadying both mind and body.

By moving with awareness and repeating practices we are presented with the opportunity to notice how slight variations of movement produce more or less strain and more or less support. When presented with options for movement, the brain will choose the easiest pathway of motion. When we increase our awareness and intention during movement we can improve functional movement patterns instead of fostering avoidant dysfunctional ones.

Finding balance starts in the feet however involves many large muscle groups. Research findings confirm that successful recovery from forward loss of balance is a whole-body control task that requires adequate trunk control and generation of adequate lower limb movements and powers to generate a long and rapid step. Training programs that specifically target these measures may be effective in improving balance recovery performance and thereby contribute to fall prevention amongst older adults. (1)


(1) 2015 Jun;66:39-46. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.04.006. Epub 2015 Apr 11. Biomechanical predictors of maximal balance recovery performance amongst community-dwelling older adults. Graham DF1, Carty CP2, Lloyd DG2, Barrett RS2. PMID: 25871728

Yoga for Balance and Stability

A 9 – week series highlighting practices to build balance and stability within our whole being

In this 9 – week program we join for a 75 minute session each week, virtual or in-person, spending time nourishing the joints and connective tissue of the body through supportive accessible movements. We continue by adding gentle strengthening practices for alignment, stability, and balance. Leaving time to end with restorative practices, participants will have space to release mind-body tensions to help support the nervous system in a state of rest and repair.

This series is for those looking to improve physical and emotional stability and balance, reduce the risk of falls and fall related injuries, and improve fall recovery time, confidence, concentration, and focus. And, may help folks living with persistent pain, stiffness, arthritis, stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties, or those recovering from an injury or surgery.

What you will learn

  • What is Fascia, how to nourish, hydrate, and release and why. How this may help to improve movement and function.
  • Anatomy of key joints, movements, and muscles that support balance and stability.
  • Education on how movements and practices may help different conditions that affect balance
  • Purpose of the movement and how it support us in balance and stability.  
  • Balance practices for physical support – including awareness of GAIT, repetitive and retractable movements.
  • Balance practices for emotional and energetic support – breathwork, meditation, supportive lifestyle patterns, self-care habits, and self-awareness exercises.

This program is offered online or in-person for locals in the Edmonton and surrounding areas, by appointment only. Whether you and a group of friends or family members are looking for a shared yoga experience to enhance wellness, or you would like to “zone” in on your own personal practice the choice is yours. This program can be offered as a group series or through private one-on-one’s.

To learn more, book a free Meet & Greet by clicking HERE. Or email yourdiscoveryandjourney@gmail.com with inquires

“Balance is the key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat, feel, they all require awareness, and through this awareness we can grow.” — Koi Fresco

Testimonial

I cannot thank Christina enough for her classes, they are the highlight of my week and each time I cannot wait for the next. She has been a fantastic teacher; correctly demonstrating poses, helping me to create a flow in my movements and patiently helping correct my posture in the poses so I do not strain my body. I have found her classes to have a perfect mix of strength building, flexibility and relaxation. Christina has a calm demeanor and soft voice that helps to focus and guide you through the practice. And I have especially appreciated that she takes time before class to check in with your state of mind and to see if there are any areas of the body that are bothering you. She will adapt or suggest modifications to help to properly exercise these areas, which really makes the classes more personable and feel tailored to you. I highly recommend Christina’s classes to anyone looking to start or expand their yoga journey.

Anonymous

This is an accessible yoga practice where we may explore poses sitting, standing, and lying down. All practices are designed to support your uniqueness. Movements can be offered in multiple orientations and the option to practice with a chair or from a bed (for those online) is always an option. Choose what best supports you as you move through your practice.

Suggested props: sturdy chair, no-slip surface, yoga blocks or books, yoga strap or belt, tennis ball(s) or similar, Pilates ball or small inflated ball, yoga bolster or firm pillow(s).