The first time I learned an attention strategy to help my balance was at age 5 in a ballet class. Spinning around on one foot in a pirouette, I was told to look straight ahead at a spot on the wall, hold that gaze as long as possible, and then snap my head around to see that same spot at the end of the turn. Spotting, as it’s called for obvious reasons, keeps you from getting dizzy and wobbly. Not long…
Olympic figure skating has mesmerized me this past week. The gravity defying jumps and lifts, the poetry of connection between partners, the graceful flow of movement across the ice, the high speeds, precision, and artistry. Amidst the spirals, swizzles, and multiple-rotation jumps in the air I am captivated by a seemingly simple component that only comes to mind when it fails – balance. I’ve also been catching up on brain research regarding the same. Researchers continue to develop a better…
If you feel a bit unsteady while putting up the holiday decorations, know you are not alone – and take heed. Last year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that nearly 15,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for holiday decorating-caused injuries, half of which involved falls. Standing on ladders, reaching, twisting, and leaning to get the lights or the ornament in the perfect spot, checking to see if the garland is draped just right while ignoring the boxes at our…