Experience a 15-Minute Workout to Improve Your Balance, Strength, and Cognitive Skills
Engaging in physical exercise not only benefits your body but also provides a mental boost by releasing important molecules. While many exercises focus on physical strength, this 15-minute coordination workout offers a unique challenge for your cognitive abilities.
According to Molly Frankinburger, DPT, PT, CSCS, our bodies and brains work together to create seamless movements by processing feedback from various systems. Coordination involves controlling speed, timing, and direction by interpreting information from the body and surroundings, resulting in complex and multi-step actions.
Enhancing your coordination is advantageous as it allows you to move smoothly and safely in your environment, reducing the risk of injuries both immediately and in the long run. Coordination exercises go beyond simple tasks like patting your head and rubbing your belly simultaneously; they can incorporate footwork, strength training, and unconventional movements that challenge your body and mind.
In this 15-minute workout led by Traci Copeland, you will start with a warm-up to activate your legs, shoulders, and core. The main routine consists of three sets of five full-body exercises, each with a unique twist. For instance, you’ll perform a warrior 3 pose transitioning into a knee drive to strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles responsible for balance. The “grapevine squat” adds a touch of dance-like movements, with Copeland encouraging you to intensify the pace as you become more familiar with the exercise. Additionally, the bear plank variation will test your stability and strength.
While challenging, this workout is designed to provide a comprehensive total-body workout in just 15 minutes, leaving you feeling accomplished and energized from head to toe.
