We went to watch the Birmingham Royal Ballet last week – for movement, power, strength, agility and grace, few human activities rival ballet. The idea of me (and probably you, too) ever being able to do what Mathias Dingman can (below) is far-fetched. But that doesn’t mean to say that I can’t improve my flexibility and strength. We all can! The human body is amazingly adaptable. Most people can become stronger, more flexible, with better balance (making us less vulnerable to falling, for example). Muscle and bone change according to how they are challenged. For example, walking helps the bone density of your legs and pelvis, doing press-ups strengthens your upper body. Investment in our bodies through appropriate exercise, movement, Pilates, yoga, nutrition is just that – an investment.
Mathias Dingman