Why standing on one leg matters

The single leg stance is a simple, but very effective exercise for improving balance. If you can stand on one leg even for 60 seconds, then it could be a sign of good health. Getting better at standing on one leg can not only add years to your life but also save you from  the risk of hurting yourself by a fall. According to data, more than 37.3 million falls every year worldwide and the majority of them are severe enough to require medical treatment.

Improving balance through practicing one leg stand can help improve sports performance, general fitness and it may help you prevent from a multitude of medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke or Alzheimer’s disease in the later years of life. Research shows that people’s inability to balance on one leg for 20 seconds or longer is linked in otherwise healthy people to an increased risk of small blood vessel damage in the brain and reduced ability to understand ideas. The strength, balance



and the ability to stay upright may also alter during or post pregnancy, menopause, and after the diagnosis of disease or retirement.

Why you should stand on one leg

Standing on one leg can not only help improve your body and brain but could also predict how long you’ll live. In fact, every time you practice standing on one leg, you are actually recalibrating your brain. During the one leg stance, the brain is performing a remarkable amount of coordination. When you try to stand on one leg then the inner ears, eyes and even joints and muscles send signals and feedback to the brain in order to maintain the balance. The role of eyes is most important and therefore standing on one leg is harder when we close our eyes. If you can balance even for 10 seconds with your eyes closed, you’re doing well.

Our ability to balance decreases as we grow old and the reason for this is not only the deterioration of the balance structures in our inner ear but also the reduction in the amount of blood flow we get into our inner ear. Practicing one leg stand can help us overcome this inevitable decline. The one leg standing exercise can be intensified as balance stability improves. By progressively challenging your balance, you can see improvement in your stability.

Standing on one leg is more important than you might think - a regular practice to balance can increase your lifespan! Research has proved that those who practice and can actually stand on one leg with their eyes closed have more chances to live longer. Also, working on your balance is also very good for building core strength and body alignment. It makes you a more stable and active elder.

With practice, one could reach a whole minute on one leg with eyes closed. You too can slowly increase your duration by daily practicing one leg stand and you can do this while brushing your teeth or watching TV or when you are out for a walk. Practice more, practice daily - if you wish to make a big difference to your life as and when you age!