While experts have touted the benefits of Tai Chi and Pilates for balance, there are many strength and cardiovascular exercises that test, challenge and build your stability as well. Today, we tackle three moves that will work your core while strengthening your lower body and getting your heart pumping a bit!
To complete these exercises, you’ll need one medium weight set of dumbbells and about a six feet square of open space. Grab your concentration as well—you’ll need it to keep steady throughout these moves!
If you’re looking to spice up your traditional strength moves while boosting balance, try standing on one leg during upper body moves like bicep curls and overhead presses. You can also grab a BOSU ball or stability disk and stand on them (with one or two legs) during your weight workout. And here are a few other strength exercises to try!
Do you have any tips for maintaining good physical balance or any favorite exercises that build body stability?
Stretching is great for physical and mental health. I find myself sometimes leaving flexibility by the wayside because results come more slowly compared to weight lifting and cardio, even though it’s a great time to loosen up muscles and reflect on all the great work just done during the rest of my workout (I stretch post-workout since it’s best to do so when muscles are warm).
While stretching has not been shown to prevent injuries, I find it to be relaxing and a great way to finish a workout, although some say that it’s not even necessary to cooldown…What do you think?
Additionally, flexibility is one of the three types of exercise that everyone should try to make routine.
What are your “stiff zones?” Do you have any favorite stretches?
