All posts tagged: Balance

China re‑centers North Korea ties as nuclear silence reshapes balance : NPR

China re‑centers North Korea ties as nuclear silence reshapes balance : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, Chinese President Xi Jinping (center left) shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center right) during a welcome ceremony in Pyongyang on Monday. 朝鮮通信社/KCNA via KNS via AP hide caption toggle caption 朝鮮通信社/KCNA via KNS via AP SEOUL/SHANGHAI — The leaders of China and North Korea reaffirmed their alliance this week in Pyongyang, emphasizing strategic cooperation while avoiding public discussion of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. The two-day trip — President Xi Jinping’s first to North Korea in nearly seven years — comes shortly after his summit with President Trump in Beijing, where the White House said both sides agreed on the shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea. Beijing did not publicly echo Washington’s claim. And this week in Pyongyang, Xi made no public mention of denuclearization. Instead, Xi focused on China’s “firm commitment to safeguarding the shared interests of the two countries and preserving a favorable strategic environment,” according to Chinese state media. North Korea’s state media, meanwhile, quoted leader Kim Jong Un …

Doing these three standing exercises daily can improve your hip stability and balance, according to a personal trainer

Doing these three standing exercises daily can improve your hip stability and balance, according to a personal trainer

Published by Jenni Sidey

Hip stability and strength are crucial for a lot of everyday movements, including walking, running, climbing stairs, and maintaining overall equilibrium. If the muscles surrounding the hips are weak and deconditioned, it can make daily tasks harder, affect your balance, and increase your risk of serious falls or injury. As a personal trainer who works with a lot of clients who are aged over 60, I often recommend standing hip exercises. Latest Videos From Physical therapist, mobility trainer and work-life balance coach Dr Drea Osborne, DPT, agrees that these can be beneficial: “Standing hip exercises are helpful to improve strength, balance and motor control.” My three exercises of choice to address hip stability and lower body strength are: standing hip abduction, standing hip adduction and standing glute kickbacks. You may like Depending on your current fitness level, these exercises can be done daily to better condition these important muscle groups. They’re appropriate for total beginners and can be progressed easily as you get stronger. “There are some situations where these exercises are not appropriate,” says …

Improve balance and coordination by doing this at-home mobility test, recommended by a doctor

Improve balance and coordination by doing this at-home mobility test, recommended by a doctor

Published by Jenni Sidey

One of the biggest concerns of my older personal training clients is falling. Age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, along with a natural decline in bone density puts seniors more at risk of falls and injuries. But there is something you can do about it. No matter your age, adding regular balance drills to your week can make a difference—and it’s easier to improve than you might think. I spoke to Dr Rahul Shah, board-certified orthopedic spine and neck surgeon at Premier Orthopaedic Associates, who said the one-legged sock-and-shoe test is a good place to start. Latest Videos From You may like This simple at-home mobility and stability assessment involves standing on one leg while, you guessed it, putting on your socks and shoes. Sometimes called the old man test, it’s used by healthcare professionals to monitor balance, hip mobility and core strength for people of any age. “The benefits of this functional movement is improving balance and coordination when standing on one leg. Its mastery will help to prevent falls and/or improve bracing when …

California votes in primary to pick new governor, and maybe tip balance in Congress

California votes in primary to pick new governor, and maybe tip balance in Congress

Published by Sam Flores

A voter drops their ballot at an official ballot drop box inside City Hall during a primary election in San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images California votes on Tuesday in a primary election that will choose two finalists for governor and Los Angeles mayor while also testing newly redrawn congressional lines that could tip the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. The marquee contest is the open race for governor, with Governor Gavin Newsom termed out and widely seen as pursuing a run for the White House in 2028. A field of 61 candidates is competing under the state’s “jungle primary,” in which the two highest vote-getters advance regardless of party. The latest polls show Democrat and former Biden cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra leading, with Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer and Republican television personality Steve Hilton also challenging for the right to move on to the November 3 general election. Tuesday’s results will determine whether Democrats can avoid internal fragmentation and whether a Republican can capitalize on a divided electorate. …

Neuromodulation Restores Balance and Gait After Brain Injury

Neuromodulation Restores Balance and Gait After Brain Injury

Published by Jenni Sidey

My brain injury in 2000 affected my balance and gait. Doctors assessed it by asking me to walk across a small room and back again. Aside from that observational method, which would not have apprised them of my habit of veering to the curb or having to consciously move my legs to walk, no diagnostic tool was used to assess my balance. In addition, no clinic provided treatment. Both approaches failed me, although receiving neurostimulation in the form of brain biofeedback and audiovisual entrainment probably assisted my balance recovery. Today, treatment is available. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Tactile Communication and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory (TCNL) developed a prescription neuromodulation device that, along with tailored in-clinic and at-home training, improves or restores balance and gait. In 2018, Health Canada approved the Portable Neuromodulation System (PoNS) as a Class II non-implantable medical device for 14-week treatment for chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recently, the FDA did as well. I became aware of neuromodulation of the brain through the tongue during a webinar hosted by …

“Balance training is one of the most effective strategies for preserving independence”—a certified personal trainer shows you how

“Balance training is one of the most effective strategies for preserving independence”—a certified personal trainer shows you how

Published by Jenni Sidey

Standing on one leg might serve as a handy method to assess your balance, but how do you improve it? You can start to work on it with this beginner-friendly circuit designed to improve stability, designed by Jacque Crockford of the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Fundamental to this workout—and any routine intended to boost balance—is strengthening the core, challenging coordination and working the body unilaterally (one side at a time) in a safe and controlled manner. Latest Videos From You may like “A strong core helps stabilize your spine and pelvis during daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, carrying groceries and getting up from the floor,” the ACE-certified personal trainer tells Fit&Well. And good balance helps people “react quickly to changes in terrain or unexpected movements”, reducing the likelihood of falls and injuries as we age so we can “confidently and comfortably move through daily life”. Crockford says this workout will develop the “multiple systems” needed to improve balance, including “muscular strength, neurological function and mobility”. How to do the workout All you …

Is Work-Life Balance Real? | Psychology Today

Is Work-Life Balance Real? | Psychology Today

Published by Jenni Sidey

The elusive “work-life balance”: Is it possible? What is it exactly? I think of it as somehow maintaining professional success and personal success without letting one of the two significantly interfere with the other. Most of the time, though, it seems that work-life balance simply refers to not letting your workload deprive you of a satisfying personal life. Perhaps it’s unrealistic for most of us to think that we can “have it all,” if that means being at the absolute pinnacle of our profession and having all the desired time and energy to spend in recreation, personal pursuits, and relationships of all types. So what can you do? A Dilemma to Manage Achieving work-life balance is often framed as a problem to solve, once and for all. Even using the word “achieve” implies the possibility of being “done” with the goal. However, I believe that work-life balance is a dilemma to manage, rather than a problem to solve. A dilemma is a complex situation requiring a choice between two or more conflicting alternatives—that is, choosing …

Pilgrims kick off Haj as Mideast peace deal hangs in the balance

Pilgrims kick off Haj as Mideast peace deal hangs in the balance

Published by Sam Flores

But amid the spiritual euphoria experienced by the pilgrims in the days ahead of the Haj, authorities in the kingdom signalled their readiness. A video posted on social media by the Saudi defence ministry showed advanced air defence batteries positioned on the outskirts of Mecca. “The air defence forces are responsible for protecting the skies over the holy sites and dealing with all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and peace of mind of the guests,” read the post. Many pilgrims who spoke to AFP expressed their hope that peace would prevail soon. “The war in Iran has affected the entire world. Nobody wants wars or harm to countries and peoples,” said Mohammed Chahada, an Egyptian in his 50s, as he walked through a crowd exiting the Grand Mosque. RITUALS The Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. During the Haj, men wear a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasises unity among believers regardless of their social status or nationality. Women must wear …

Auralee’s Latest New Balance Sneaker Is a Slim-Soled Heater

Auralee’s Latest New Balance Sneaker Is a Slim-Soled Heater

Published by Jenni Sidey

For a brand best known for understated dad shoes, New Balance has a pretty noisy list of collaborators—from high-fashion hitters like Miu Miu to rap-game rebels like Action Bronson to explosive hoopers like Tyrese Maxey. But one of the Boston stalwart’s most exciting partners is also one of its quietest: Auralee, the buzzy Japanese clothing line, who in recent years have reinvigorated NB classics like 990v4 and 1906R with their signature offbeat minimalist flair. Now, the Ryota Iwai-led label is back with one of its strongest efforts yet on the New Balance 204L. The 204L is a more recent addition to the New Balance lineup, launching last year with a campaign featuring none other than Rosalía. The silhouettes blends the wavy paneled uppers you’d find on ’90s-era runners with slimmed-down, of-the-moment outsoles. The brand has bet big on the model, launching a plethora of excellent colorways in the year since its release, including a smash-hit cowprint version in collaboration with Atmos. Auralee’s take, however, looks set to cement the 204L as a staple in the …

Over-50s who pass this 10-second balance test have better predicted longevity—here’s how to improve your balance at any age

Over-50s who pass this 10-second balance test have better predicted longevity—here’s how to improve your balance at any age

Published by Jenni Sidey

Can you stand steady on one leg for 10 seconds? That was the test put to 1,702 individuals in one longitudinal study on over-50-year-olds, with findings showing that those who can have a lower risk of all-cause mortality. In the study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2022, participants across an 11-year period were assessed on their ability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds without losing balance. Latest Videos From You may like This data was then cross-referenced against anthropometric measurements, including waist circumference and body mass index (commonly known as BMI), to interpret the role of these variables on survival rates and risk of mortality. “That research has shown balance can actually be a meaningful marker of overall health and longevity,” says Jacque Crockford of the American Council on Exercise (ACE). “Balance and core strength are foundational components of healthy movement and long-term independence,” she tells Fit&Well. “For older adults in particular, balance training is one of the most effective strategies for preserving independence and reducing fall risk.” How …