Finding your balance: why steadiness matters more as we get older
By Selin Ebeci
Balance is something most of us take for granted until we notice it slipping. The good news is that balance is a skill, not a fixed trait, and it responds beautifully to practice.
Why balance changes over time
As the years go by, many people find that strength in the legs, sensation in the feet and reaction time naturally change. We also tend to stop practising balance: life becomes flatter, smoother and more predictable. The less we challenge it, the less steady we can feel when something unexpected happens.
Steadiness gives you confidence
Feeling steady on your feet changes how you move through the world. You walk with more confidence on uneven paths, sand or stairs. You feel freer to travel, play with grandchildren, garden and stay active. That sense of trust in your own body is precious.
How yoga trains balance
Standing poses build strength through the legs and hips. Balancing poses like tree pose ask the small muscles around your ankles to work. Slow transitions train control, and focusing the eyes and breath steadies the mind. In class I always offer a wall, a chair or a block, so everyone can work at the right level and feel safe.
Practise a little every day
- Stand on one leg while you brush your teeth, holding the bench lightly if you need to.
- Walk heel to toe along a hallway, with a wall within reach.
- Rise up onto your toes and lower slowly, ten times.
- Practise tree pose next to a wall, starting with your foot resting at the ankle.
Start gently and always keep something sturdy nearby. If you have had a fall or have any concerns about your balance, speak with your doctor or physio first. Then come and practise with us: steadiness grows one breath at a time.
