The Power of Balance #1

Hello everyone! How are you all doing in this rapidly aging society?

This is Hayakawa, the evangelist of dance and rhythm exercises!

Today, I'd like to talk about "body balance."

Balance refers to a state of equilibrium, where one is parallel to an axis and horizontal to gravity. While it's difficult to be constantly aware of it, sadly, balance is often the first physical ability to decline with age.

Are you feeling a sense of sadness, as if the once brilliant you is slowly fading away, thinking, "Speedy changes in direction are just a pipe dream now..." or "Where did those graceful movements like 'turn and dash' go?"

In my opinion, the biggest factor contributing to declining balance is "mouth breathing." When breathing becomes shallow, balance gradually but surely deteriorates over many years.

So, what specifically should we be mindful of to maintain balance? While "balance" itself is invisible, there's a way to check it using "visible body parts." That is,

The large joints on both sides of your body.

The answer is simple: "Your hip joints and shoulder joints should always be in a vertical (up-and-down) relationship."

Whether you're sitting, walking, or twisting your body, this is one correct answer. It's challenging to be constantly aware of this in daily life, but if you can't set yourself up in the correct position, your body will unknowingly start to crumble... Crash! Bang! (Like building blocks falling apart).

Are your hip joints and shoulder joints in a vertical relationship right now? For those of you saying, "I don't want to look in the mirror lately," please take a good look at your reflection.

For those who have read this far, I'll share one immediate way to improve your balance:

It's to "breathe through your nose." (By the way, I wrote in detail about "breathing" in my previous blog post, so please do read that as well!)

In the next blog post, I'll share some more in-depth training methods. Be sure to check out my Instagram too! Stay tuned!