Q: How do I improve my balance & co-ordination?

Quite a crucial component of fitness, a basic skill required in most sports, especially in surfing and so it's not surprising that balance can be learned, challenged, and improved dramatically. There are a whole host of balance training aids to help your balance from the Indo board - a great way to practice your balance and manoeuvres whilst on dry land. It strengthens your legs, core and it will keep you tuned when you are not in the water. The use of swiss balls, stability boards, stability discs, bosu trainer (the list is endless) can all be incorporated into your strength and conditioning programme to produce an unstable surface to work out on and so stimulating the whole neuromuscular system and core to help improve balance and proprioception.

However you can just as easily improve your balance with little or none of the fancy equipment. We can train our bodies to improve the proprioception within the muscles, just by challenging our balance ourselves e.g. standing on one foot with our eyes closed is an easy exercise for starters. You can also try standing on one foot and reach forward to touch the ground in front of you before standing up again, or fun partner exercises e.g. while each balancing on one foot throw a medicine ball to each other. Loads of fun!!!!

Keep practicing!!