Thanks to the molecules that get released when you exercise, working out your body also gives your brain a boost, too. But not every exercise itself specifically challenges you cognitively. That’s where this 15-minute coordination workout differs.
Molly Frankinburger told Well+Good that our bodies and brains accept feedback from multiple systems to produce a unified movement. Taking a step might seem simple. Coordination is complex. The ability to control your speed is what it is. It involves taking in all sorts of information from your body and environment in order to translate that into actions that are complex and involve multiple steps.
Good coordination is important because it helps us move smoothly through the world. You can improve yours immediately and long-term. Coordination exercises are not just about rubbing your belly and tapping your head at the same time. They can involve twisting and bending in a way that makes you want to jump up and down. They are a workout for you and your body.
In this 15-minute coordination workout, you will get that. The warm-up will focus on your legs, shoulders, and core. Three sets of exercises are part of the main series. There’s something extra in all of them. One move that combines a warrior 3 pose that shifts forward into a knee drive will help you strengthen those tiny muscles throughout your feet and ankle that promote balance. As you become more comfortable with the movement, you will be challenged to increase the speed. Her bear plank variation is not something I will start on.
After just 15 minutes, you will feel like you have gotten a complete-body workout from head to toe.