Of what I consider the key elements of a healthy, sustainable, physically active lifestyle, building a foundation is undoubtedly number one. The many benefits of building (and maintaining) a solid base include:
- promoting and strengthening body symmetry and alignment
- dramatic improvements in balance and coordination
- injury prevention
- exercise adherence and retention
If you stop reading here, this is the takeaway: you will be more willing to continue exercise and living a healthy lifestyle if you are relatively pain-free, feel stronger and well balanced, can move with ease regardless of age, and avoid injury. All of this is possible — and everyone is capable of this— through building a sound foundational base.