Try this relaxation practice during your Social-Distancing.

When students ask how I can tell a person’s skill without having touched them, I reply that it’s fairly simple. I just watch them performing common, every day tasks like walking, sitting, standing or turning side to side in a chair. Even the way they hold things, is chockful of clues about their physical and emotional prowess.

The way you move is life’s imprint on you. It is built from a collection of experiences, beliefs and habits you have embraced over time. Those who have taken the time to study and refine themselves, can spot those who have not.

The body does not differentiate between good/bad or right/wrong. It merely etches whatever it is you accustom it to doing into your nervous system.

Hence, the old adage of practice makes perfect is imprecise. Repeatedly practicing something wrong doesn’t miraculous morph into being right over time. Do something useless enough times, and you’ve earned yourself a useless habit.

Unfortunately, I know too many world class gurus/coaches/masters unnecessarily making things more complex than they need to be. That is why I give simple, every day tasks to help my students dial back excessive tensions and subconscious fear.

By standing on an unsteady surface like a ball, a student can observe his various physiological and psychological states. Through this process of introspection to stimulus, he learns to replace uncontrollable fear and erratic movement with calm, relaxed and measured responses.

Many have reported tremendous value from this practice. Simply balance atop a ball and take inventory of all the minute changes inside of you. You will fall off at first, but keep taking note of where the tension spikes within.

Imagine your tension as a string of Christmas lights and you want to switch them off one at a time. As your comfort and familiarity to the tension increases, layer in complexities by moving your arms in various while stepping on and off the ball. Where there is a change in speed is where your tension is creeping back in.

Build slow and don’t forget that you are NOT velcro’d to the ball. You can simply step off any time you feel uncomfortable to avoid a fall. Failure to do this may result in sprained ankles, torn menisci, broken hips or worst.*

*Disclaimer of Liability*
Do not attempt this exercise without professional supervision. You agree to accept full responsibility for any and all injuries due to your actions.

Music Copyright:
“I Think We’re Alone Now”– Beating Hearts

Balancing on Basketball w/ more details:

Truth in Training!