Balance Exercises For A Walking Program

Balance Exercises To Start A Walking Program

By Suzanne Stoke, Physical Therapist @ Exercise For Balance via www.exerciseforbalance.com/     Balance exercises are at great foundation to improve stability and get you ready to start a walking program.  Both balance exercises and walking are very effective to improve health. Most research on the benefits of exercise focuses on joint and heart protection. Studies clearly show that exercise helps to improve heart function. In addition, studies are reporting that even people at higher risk for heart disease may lower their risk of dying from it if they consistently exercise. Over time, evidence produced by researchers has suggested that our genes have evolved to favor being active. In other words, during prehistoric times, if a person couldn't move quickly and wasn't strong, that person died. Those who were fit survived to reproduce and pass on their "fitter" genes. Some researchers believe that with our current inactive lifestyle, these genes produce a number of bad effects, which can lead to many chronic illnesses.

The benefits of a walking program and stability exercises include:

• Decreased body fat and overall weight
• Improved metabolic processes -- the way the body breaks down and builds necessary substances
• Improved movement of joints and muscles and decreased osteoporosis
• Improved oxygen delivery throughout the body
• Improved sense of well-being
• Improved strength and endurance

No one is too young or too old to exercise. The United States Surgeon General recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, nearly every day. Please see    http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now

Balance Exercises To Start A Walking Program

The best way to start an exercise program is to begin with balance exercises in a stable and safe environment. The first level of stability exercise is to stand with your feet in a narrow base of support and allow your ankles to wiggle back and forth, which is the body's natural balance reaction. The next progression of equilibrium exercises is to stand on an uneven surface like a couch cushion or pillow.  The unstable surface will make balancing more difficult and maximize your balance skills.  When your standing balance improves to a safe level, you can begin balance exercises with walking and ultimately progress to walking outside on uneven surfaces like hiking trails or sand at the beach.  To learn the proper balance techniques and exercises needed to progress to a healthy walking program, you can practice at home first with the Exercise For Balance DVD.  

Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    To Learn the best balance exercises to start you on a safe and healthy walking program, get the Exercise For Balance DVD. The Balance DVD is a convenient tool to use at home or in a group setting. The Balance DVD comes complete  with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like walking, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like dancing and hiking. In the DVD, you will be able to progress at your own pace and you will learn how to improve balance, balance techniques and balance routines from an expert--licensed Physical Therapist-- who has worked with balance and dizziness disorders for over 20 years. Get your copy of the Exercise For Balance DVDRead more ...