Doing THIS for just one minute everyday can help with longevity!

Time of India

2 days ago

Staying healthy and living longer requires basic methods, which should be simple to execute. The exercise of standing on one leg with eyes closed, functions as an unexpected approach to help longevity.
The exercise appears basic, yet it creates multiple advantages for your physical and mental health, which strengthens your body while enhancing balance and youthful appearance.
What is Standing on One Leg with Eyes Closed
The exercise of standing on one leg with eyes closed, involves raising one foot above the ground while maintaining the other foot on the floor then shutting your eyes. The absence of visual guidance, forces your body to expend more effort for maintaining equilibrium.
The first attempt at this task will be difficult, yet practice makes it progressively simpler. Doing this exercise for a few minutes daily leads to unexpected advantages.
Why Balance Matters for Longevity
The human body needs balance as an essential factor when people grow older. The inability to maintain balance increases your chances of experiencing a fall. Serious injuries tend to affect older adults more severely when falls occur. The recovery period and independence loss tend to become longer due to these types of injuries.
When you practice balance exercises like standing on one leg, you build better coordination between your muscles and brain. The practice of balance exercises decreases your chance of falling, which leads to better health and increased safety in older age.
Strengthens Muscles and Joints
The act of standing on one leg, functions as a weight-bearing activity, because it requires you to place weight on both your bones and your muscles. This exercise strengthens your bones and decreases your chances of developing osteoporosis, since it helps maintain bone density.
The exercise engages your core muscle, leg muscles and hips. Your body uses these muscles to perform basic activities including walking and climbing stairs, and standing from chairs. Your body achieves better movement and reduces discomfort because of muscular strength.
Improves Brain Function and Focus
The act of balancing without vision requires your brain to function at its highest level. The brain needs to use its touch and body awareness, senses instead of visual cues.
The exercise provides mental benefits which improve your concentration abilities and body control and focus.
The better functioning of your brain helps slow down the normal aging process of memory and cognitive abilities. The practice helps prevent dementia along with Alzheimer's disease. This basic exercise benefits both your physical health, and mental clarity simultaneously.
Enhances Body Awareness and Posture
The experience of standing on one leg with eyes shut increases your sense of body positioning.
Proprioception refers to the human body's natural ability to detect its body parts, without needing visual input. Proprioception of good quality enhances coordination and diminishes clumsiness.
Better body awareness leads to improved posture. Maintaining proper spinal health and preventing neck and back pain becomes possible through appropriate posture. Proper posture creates both confidence and youthful appearance and promotes general wellness.
Easy to Do Anytime, Anywhere
The main benefit of this exercise stems from its simple execution. You require no specific equipment or vast space to perform this exercise. The exercise can be performed both at home and at the office and outside. It requires only brief daily practice sessions lasting several minutes.
Beginners should start by holding onto a chair or wall for support before attempting to stand without assistance. Slowly, your balance skills will improve enough to try standing on a softer surface, while extending your practice time.
How to Practice Safely
The exercise of standing on one leg with eyes closed remains basic, yet following these safety tips brings added protection.
You should practice this exercise by standing near a wall or sturdy chair, because you can hold onto it if you lose your balance.
Begin with open eyes until you achieve balance before shutting them.
Carry out the exercise on an even floor that offers grip to your feet.
Choose either comfortable footwear or remain barefoot if the surface feels secure.
Before starting this exercise, consult your doctor about balance issues and health conditions you may have.
Source
Mayo Clinic