How to make balance exercises a daily habit
Calendine works on his balance while his coffee brews, both at home and at work, giving each leg a turn. “Nobody even knows I’m doing it,” he says. “They’re standing beside me, but you can kind of hide it, which is nice.”
Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon in Orlando, practices so often that she sometimes catches herself standing on one leg while giving a speech. She also asks rooms full of executives to try it—and watches them struggle. “It may be one of the only things they fail at,” she says.
To make practicing easier to remember, she suggests pairing it with something you already do. Once you feel steady enough, try standing on one leg while brushing your teeth or taking a phone call beside your desk, with a sturdy surface nearby. “You’ve got to brush your teeth anyway,” she says. “Do it on one leg.”
When holding the position for 30 seconds feels easy, you can gradually increase the challenge. Wright suggests placing a folded towel under your standing foot, which makes the surface less stable. Another option is moving your arms while you balance. Change one thing at a time, with support within reach.