Balanced for now, but not without a little flail...

Photo by flickr user mike.ga

As a personal trainer, I highly recommend using balance moves for not only coordination and fall prevention, but also to help strengthen all of our stabilizer muscles. Staying in control and balance is challenging, but essential for total body fitness. In fact, that unsteady feeling of trying to balance is exactly what our body needs to feel in order to right itself. That is how we get strong!

However, when it turns into my own personal life balance, I find that it isn't always so simple to "right" myself. When I was always at home with my kids, it seemed that my life was centered around them. I was balancing my kids needs with my own, resigning myself in the knowledge that they needed me all the time. As they started to grow, I was restless because they didn't physically need me as much anymore. They have now started school and preschool and they can reach the cereal bowls. So, as they need me less, I have started getting back to work.

Even though it feels uneasy sometimes, I think I am balancing this new act. At least, sometimes I am. It seems like I am always trying to stabilize those needs of my kids and my own. Just like when you stand on one foot and you flail your hands around, I feel silly with my own life balance. It feels like I am trying to grasp onto something steady, even though nothing is there. Meanwhile, I am still balancing on that foot anyway! It isn't pretty, but I am doing it! Even though my kids get sick and appointments change, I will still try to keep everything as balanced as I can.

Is that life's balance? Is it supposed to feel unsteady in order for us to get stronger and more confident? Am I alone in feeling like everyday has a certain amount of flail and steady moments? Please let me know how you stay balanced!

Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who is at home with her sick little kiddo. She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.