Wobble But Don't Fall Down

Can you stand on one leg and "write" the ABC's with the other leg without falling?

Have you seen those cute little Weeble toys? You know, the ones that wobble but they don’t fall down. We don’t want to fall down either, but often, we don’t even want to wobble. The moment we begin to fall off balance, we grab onto something for support. I encourage you to resist that urge and be okay with wobbling.

Balance is a conversation between our brain, our various sensory systems, and our muscles. When we stumble, walk on uneven ground, or turn our gaze and lose our balance, our reflexes kick in, sending messages to the brain, which in turn signals the necessary muscles to shift our weight, move our limbs, and adjust ourselves to keep from falling. A sedentary lifestyle or lack of physical activity can weaken our reflexes and muscles, disrupting this conversation. The brain doesn’t get the message and react quickly enough to signal the muscles that are responsible for keeping us upright. Balance is now a problem and falling becomes a real risk.

The more we fall, the more fearful of falling we become, and the more likely we are to feel the need to hold on for support. This robs our balance reflexes and stabilizer muscles from doing their job. Prolonged time away from the job can lead to muscle or reflex atrophy. Now is the time to combat any current or future balance challenges we may have.

Exercises that target flexibility, coordination, and core strength such as tai chi, yoga, and Essentrics® can help prevent atrophy and a loss of balance. In an Essentrics® workout, we are often encouraged not to reach for support right away but instead allow ourselves to wobble and fall off balance. Wobbling is good. It actually stimulates balance reflexes, activating deep stabilizer muscles and the neuromuscular connection between our brain and the rest of our body. We’re retraining our body to send the proper messages and make the necessary adjustments to keep us from toppling over. We’re practicing for real life stumbles and potential falls.

Embracing the wobble may be easier said than done when we fear falling. I don’t want you to feel unsafe. Keep a chair, counter, or other sturdy object within reach. Try not to use it unless absolutely necessary. If necessary, go ahead and use it but don’t hold on for dear life. Lightly hold on with two or three fingers. With consistent practice, you’ll see your ability to balance quickly improve.

Take on a Weeble mentality as you challenge yourself. Allow yourself to wobble. But don’t fall down!

Try this fun ABC balance challenge!