Workout Without the Wobble
Thank your body's self-awareness next time you save yourself from a spill in your fou-rinch pumps: Nerve endings in your tendons and muscles sense the subtle changes in your body position, says fitness expert Todd Durkin, author of The IMPACT! Body Plan and owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego. That unconscious info, combined with (and enhanced by) your coordination and strength, is used by your motor system to rule how well you stay on your feet.
The Test Single-Leg Balance and Touch
Test each leg separately. Stand on your right leg, knee slightly bent, and bend down to touch your toes with your left hand, keeping your back flat and raising your left leg behind you. Return to the starting position without putting your left foot down. Repeat as many times as possible in 60 seconds.
Measure Up
If you touch...
21 times or more → Excellent
10 to 20 times → Good
Fewer than 10 times → Below Average
Boost Your Balance
Anchor your roots with this modified tree pose: Standing on your right leg, place your left foot on your right inner thigh, left knee turned out. Close your eyes and extend your arms overhead. Hold for 20 seconds, then return to start. Repeat on the opposite side. Your goal: Minimize the number of breaks in form, like moving your hands or opening your eyes.
