Advise to improve balance...?

[salsachinita]

I have always found BALANCE to be my biggest obstacle in dancing. :oops:

I also know that I am in the best place to receive advise 8)

So please help me out here........what should I focus on doing...? Is there any excercise I can do......?

Anyone with experience/story to share...?

[Swing Kitten]

my first impulse would be to lower my center of gravity... I'm not sure how that would work for salsa. Maybe lower heels if you wear them?

When do you find your balance to be the biggest issue and how bad is it? Are there particular circumstances when it's worse or better?

[salsachinita]

Generally spinning related, or when being lead into fancy LA moves I'm not familiar with (weight-change in unfamiliar patterns...?) :?

[salsachinita]

*Mental Note to Self*: Learn fancy LA moves! (personal taste aside, techniques are the issue here :wink: )

[msc]

Keep your abdominal muscles isometrically engaged. Pull your belly button towards your spine as much as possible. The more you do that, the more control and balance you'll have, be it turns, dips, or just body control in general.

The downside is, it's hard to do, and it sort of hurts, at least at first. Ah well.

[Swing Kitten]

The downside is, it's hard to do, and it sort of hurts, at least at first. Ah well.

HAHAHAHA ... just struck me as funny! :lol:

I know it sounds obvious but keep your feet under you. No, really! center your weight over feet/foot (which ever the case may be)

[salsachinita]

I know it sounds obvious but keep your feet under you. No, really! center your weight over feet/foot (which ever the case may be)

Yep. This is helpful. I have paid attention to my dancing this weekend and noticed that when I am not familiar with a certain move I may not have my weight 'centered'.

*Mental Note to Self*: smaller steps! smaller steps!!

[Swing Kitten]

It's a good thing to try to remember. I know it's difficult to think of everything at every moment... dare I say impossible? improbable definitely!

So how long have you been working on improving your balance and have you made much progress? What do you do to actively work on it?

I'm sure it will be a great feeling to have this little bump behind you and to have this be a thing of the past and be a stronger dancer for it.

Best Wishes!

[salsachinita]

So how long have you been working on improving your balance and have you made much progress? What do you do to actively work on it?

I've had trouble with my balance all my life...! Used to be THAT kid who fell over a lot & no body wanted to pick as a team (any sprots)!

I spent most of my high school years limping around with my ankles bandaged up ("surely you can't have twisted your ankle AGAIN?!") & missing most of my PE (Physical Ed.) classes (so I failed).

Learning (AND actually getting good at) Salsa changed all that, but balance remained one of my biggest hinderance. Except now I might have a good explaination why I was like this......

Last May I woke up one morning & felt PINS & NEEDLES on the entire left side of my body, including my face. I was working 24/7 at the time, meeting deadlines etc. Thinking I had slept funny, I went to work & carried on as usual.

A week later when things did not improve I went to the doctor. He got mad at me for not turning up earlier, then promptly sent me to get tested ("It could've been a stroke or brain tumor...!") He kept me on observation when all tests came back negative.

Then two weeks later, I was dancing at my fav salsa club when I mucked up a real simple turn. I realised I couldn't feel my foot, so went and sat down. A few mins later I realised that I COULDN'T stand up :shock:

That was when all hell broke loose. After becoming a human Guinea pig for a few weeks, they found early signs of MS.

That was when my life totally changed.

Could it be that I've been affeted by this condition all along without knowing it.....? Could it be why I've always had trouble with my balance...?

I've had to work on my hand-eye co-ordination just to get back to funtioning normally. Then I kinda re-balanced for my dancing.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

[Sagitta]

Welll it's great that you worked around MS :bouncy: [too happy because of lack of sleep. Must get sleep or I won't learn anything in dance class tonight -- too much giggling when I'm sleep deprived! :) ]

Focus on doing movements by leading with your body. I find that when I concentrate on foot movements, such as for lindy hop, I louse up the dance. However, if I work on moving my body and letting my feet come along for the ride making sure I am centered is a lot easier. I was just trying this out yesterday evening when working on my latin motion!! I definitely made some improvement!! :)

[pygmalion]

Hey salsachinita! :D

I'm glad you got your diagnosis. It must have been really hard -- it's hard knowing that you have a chronic condition at all. I know from experience. But I think it's better to know, so you can do whatever you need to, to stay well.

That said, my suggestion isn't a quick fix, but it has worked for me. Yoga is great for balance. It demands a lot when you're first starting out, but many of the moves exericse your ability to balance, therefore, in time, improve your balance. And something about the breathing and knowing where to focus your eyes really helps, too.

May God bless you. :)

Jenn

[salsachinita]

Hey salsachinita! :D

I'm glad you got your diagnosis. It must have been really hard -- it's hard knowing that you have a chronic condition at all. I know from experience. But I think it's better to know, so you can do whatever you need to, to stay well.

That said, my suggestion isn't a quick fix, but it has worked for me. Yoga is great for balance. It demands a lot when you're first starting out, but many of the moves exericse your ability to balance, therefore, in time, improve your balance. And something about the breathing and knowing where to focus your eyes really helps, too.

May God bless you. :)

Jenn

Thanks, Jenn :D

Yoga/pilates are on my to-do list. I will find a good class once I get my income sorted out (they advertised my job as soon as I got sick)!

Dancing salsa had been the most improtant factor in keeping my spirit high. I bet it cures many things :wink: !

(what's your condition/experience?)

*hug*

[pygmalion]

Yoga/pilates are on my to-do list. I will find a good class once I get my income sorted out (they advertised my job as soon as I got sick)!

Dancing salsa had been the most improtant factor in keeping my spirit high. I bet it cures many things !

(what's your condition/experience?)

*hug*

Hug right back. :cry: :D My condition is not as serious as yours. I have something called uvitis (pronounced U-V-itis, like UV light) which is an inflammation of the eye from inside the eyeball. It's usually caused by autoimmune diseases, so I've been tested for everything from cancer to lupus to tuberculosis. No dice. The doctors can't figure out what's causing it. All I know is that, if it weren't for steroids, I'd be blind. And in periods of great stress (like now LOL!) , I have flare-ups. No telling whether or when the steroids stop working. So for now, I just wait and hope. What can you do? :?

But yes, back to the topic, yoga is good. For physical balance and for mental serenity. :D

Jenn

[salsachinita]

if it weren't for steroids, I'd be blind. And in periods of great stress (like now LOL!) , I have flare-ups. No telling whether or when the steroids stop working. So for now, I just wait and hope. What can you do? :?

I understand. I am also worse if I get stressed (which seems to cause so many things!). For now I've managed to stay off steroids (very lucky!) & stubbornly partying on as if nothing is wrong :P !

Take care, Jenn. I hope your stress goes away..! (Plz PM me anytime you need ok...?)

Shelley

[danceguy]

Hi Salsachinita,

Hmm, exercises for balance...I know quite a few and I'm thinking of one that will be clear enough over a post like this. This is a basic yoga/qi gong posture that I spent several years experimenting with...and I think it might a good one for you to try:

Balance Exercise:

1. The foundation exercise involves standing with your back to a wall to start out, or near a wall if you are braver. :)

2. If you can, try and stand up on the balls of your feet. The higher you can go, the better. You may almost look like you are training for ballet, and keep your weight centered and low with knees slightly bent, your upper body erect and relaxed.

3. Be very careful with your body - know your limits and don't over do it. Some people can do this very easily, for others it is extremely difficult.

4. Hold your arms out of front of you, about waist height. The goal here is try and stay up on your toes for 20-30 seconds. If this is easy for you against the wall, move away from the wall, but be careful!

Things to keep in mind - Keep your posture must be very straight. Don't stick your butt out, or lean your head forward. You want to feel as if there is a cord pulling the top of your head to the sky, and one pulling your tailbone down. Keep good posture, and experiment with the "tailbone tuck" by moving your sacrum a bit, find what is comfortable for you.

As before, your skill in this will vary depending of many factors. When I first started, I could barely do it by a wall for 20 seconds. But when you get some proficiency at this, its time to step it up a notch. The way I learned this exercise was not to the level I later took it to, this is something I just did for fun and challange:

1. While standing in your "toes up" posture, slowly start to lower your body weight as you sink into your knees. BE VERY CAREFUL while you are doing this, again the posture much be straight!
2. Go for a lower and lower posture, until eventually you are squatting down, posture staight, and the backs of your heels are touching your rear. If you can, stay in this posture for a minute or two. Or, you can start in the squat and go up. Experiment!
3. For even more difficultly, keep your eyes closed!

Other considerations: Breath is of the essence here. You should be breathing through your nose, exhaling though your mouth. Go slow! Try taking 30 seconds or more to go down...or even inhale up, exhale down. This exercise can be varied and changed as long as you keep the basic principles intact. Try with and without shoes, but with bare feet it is more difficult. It is very good for developing balance, leg strength and toe/foot strength. I have quite developed tendons in my feet now due to this exercise...and I can easily walk around on my toes without any problems.

Hope this helps!

Sincerely,

SG

[salsachinita]

Thanks, SG. :D
I will certainly try this!

[Mich]

Could it be that I've been affeted by this condition all along without knowing it.....? Could it be why I've always had trouble with my balance...?

I've had to work on my hand-eye co-ordination just to get back to funtioning normally. Then I kinda re-balanced for my dancing.


Salsachinta: Naw, I'm not a doctor but kids don't usually show MS symptoms. Maybe you were just in an awkward phase. I used to ride and fall off the horse regularly as a pre teen but I don't how much that balance issue is related to why I fall over during double spins.

But you've outgrown the awkward stage and now you're an accomplished salsera!

As a dancer with balance problems AND MS, I can appreciate the frustration. I know alot of MY balance problems are from not having a good sense of gravity and keeping my weight over the balls of my feet. When I first began ballroom, I tried walking and then running backwards at the track. This did help and I occasionally practice it.

What helps me with turns is spotting but I am still working on this. OK with spins I occasionally close my eyes. I really try not to look down--I didn't know how much I was looking down until I watched a video tape at our little Arthur Murray comp. Sometimes I compensate by looking at my partner's hand when I turn and spin--even if i don't raise my head it prevents me from looking down. My spins are gradually getting better.

Dizziness? Document it and call it a feature. Feeling tipsy and we didn't even have to get drunk.

Has physical therapy been recommended for hand to eye coordination?

My teachers know that continous turning is not a good thing and most leaders will understand if you let them know you're getting dizzy. A good neuro opthamologist might address some of the vision related balance stuff if you think this is an issue.

Yoga is also on my to do list. Will definitely try the posture exercise suggested above.

Dancing gives us alot of joy and hope, esp when the nervous system is throwing little curve balls. fortunately, I haven't needed steroids yet so dancing can stay my favorite medication.
Bests.

[salsachinita]

Thanks, Mich. :D
(Are you a sufferer too?)

[Mich]

Yes, I was diagnosed with MS five years ago when the doctor was following up on a disc problem. Fortunately, most of my symptoms fall in the sensory and cognitive category. Like short term memory.

What was I saying?

But i had a crashing attack of double vision and dizziness the morning of a comp which provided my tango a real topsy turvy quality.

But if you panic when the central nervous overload system hits, you can make it worse. I also have epilepsy.

But I can forget these little problems during a perfectly timed arm check or during a samba roll.
So we just keep dancing, right?

[pygmalion]

(they advertised my job as soon as I got sick)!



This is illegal in the United States, since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, about a decade ago. People are protected from that sort of treatment. I wonder if there's any law like that in other countries -- to protect people with illnesses?

[salsachinita]

(they advertised my job as soon as I got sick)!



This is illegal in the United States, since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, about a decade ago. People are protected from that sort of treatment. I wonder if there's any law like that in other countries -- to protect people with illnesses?

Yep, Jenn. We got laws. But they do not cover contractors/freelancers.

As I had been working as a freelancer since '97 (better rate, more flexible hous, less sense of 'commitment') I did not even have superannuation of any kind :(

Oh, well. *shrug* everything will fall into place, as they are meant to :wink:

Things happen for a reason. I am taking this as a promt to focus on my real passions. Salsa is one. :D

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Yes. Things do happen for a reason, even when we can't see it. I just want to go on the record as protesting the grossly unfair treatment you have received. :evil: I'm sure things will be fine, and that there are other employers out there who value you and your work. Hang in there. :? :)

[salsachinita]

So we just keep dancing, right?

You bet, Mich. :P

A few times my left arms 'died' but lucky for me as most of the leads are done on the right :wink: !

As dancers we feed off the (positive) energy from one another, which I found helpful when you don't feel 100%.