Cerebellum Exercises

CAUTION: Always think safety first. Make sure you are in a place where you can catch yourself if you lose your balance. If you are doing these exercises correctly, you will lose your balance many times.

As you become accustomed to these exercises, you will notice that your performance deteriorates when you are tired. My balance is not as good right after a workout, or at the end of a long day. This isn’t good or bad, just be aware of it.
1. Pinchers – Hold arms parallel to the floor and straight in front of you. Perform pincher fingers with thumb and index finger for 30 seconds, then move all fingers for another 30 seconds. Watch for drift in your arms. Your arms should stay steady while your hands are moving. Do not let them move closer together or father apart, or up or down. Pinch together as quickly as possible without any arm movement. Once you are good at this without arm movement, continue with eyes closed for 15 seconds, then open your eyes and examine your arm position. Adjust if necessary, then close your eyes and repeat.
2. Hand flips – Hold arms parallel to the floor and straight in front of you, palms up. Keep your arms at a constant distance apart and parallel to the floor. Now turn your hands so your palms are down, then rotate 180 degrees so your palms are back up, then back down, etc. Continue for 30 seconds as fast as you can while still maintaining excellent form. If your form degrades at all, slow down. Once you are good at this without arm movement, continue with eyes closed for 15 seconds, then open your eyes and examine your arm position. Is one arm lower than the other? This is a brain issue.
3. Tightrope Stand – Stand toe to heel as if you were balancing on a tightrope. Have something at each side of you in case you lose your balance (for safety). Balance as long as possible up to 30 seconds. Do 3 sets. Change feet positions, opposite foot in front and repeat.
Once you can do 30 seconds without losing your balance, do it while looking straight up. When you can do that for 30 seconds, do it with your eyes closed.
4. One Foot Balance – stand on one foot, lift the other in the air. Hold for 30 seconds. Do three sets, then change feet. Once you can do this without losing balance, look straight up while you do it. Once you can look straight up for 30 seconds, do it with your eyes closed.