How Yoga, Pilates, & Barre Improve Stability in Icy Conditions
Winter in Kelowna is beautiful, and slippery. Sidewalks freeze overnight, parking lots turn into ice rinks, and even a short dog walk can feel like a full-body event.
At MYE Studio, we talk a lot about real-life strength, the kind that keeps your joints supported, your reflexes sharp, and your body aware of where it is in space.
This post breaks down how your favourite classes directly support your balance and reduce your risk of slipping.
Why Balance Matters More in Winter
Kelowna winters come with:
- unexpected ice patches
- slush that refreezes overnight
- steep driveways and hills
- slippery parking lots at local shops
To navigate all of that safely, you need:
- strong legs
- a responsive core
- mobile hips and ankles
- steady single-leg balance
- calm but quick reflexes
This combination dramatically reduces your risk of falling and improves your ability to recover mid-slip.
And the good news? You already train these skills every time you show up at MYE Studio!
What the Research Says
Strong Legs Reduce Slips & Falls
Research shows that strengthening your glutes, quads, and lower legs improves stability and makes your legs quicker to react when the ground shifts beneath you. MYE Barre, MYE Strength, MYE Centre and MYE Pilates all aim to engage these muscle groups.
A Strong and Responsive Core Helps You Recover Mid-Slip
Your deep core doesn’t just make you look great in that new holiday outfit, it acts like a stabilizing belt. When you suddenly lose your footing, your core fires in order to keep you upright or to control your fall in a safer manner. MYE Pilates is especially powerful at teaching this.
Proprioception and Reaction Time
Proprioception is your ability to sense where your body is in space. Studies show that improved proprioception dramatically reduces fall risk and improves balance on unstable surfaces. Test your proprioception by standing on one leg and closing your eyes. How long can you balance for? MYE Centre, MYE Flow, and MYE-ofascial Rollout all help at building out your internal GPS system.
Calm Nervous System Translates to Quicker Reflexes
It seems counterintuitive, but its true. When your nervous system is calm (not tense or bracing) your reflexes are actually faster and more coordinated. MYE Stillness, MYE-ofascial Rollout, and all of our upcoming December workshops are designed to help your body shift back into a state where your parasympathetic nervous system is in charge.
The Bottom Line
Improving balance isn’t just about preventing falls. It’s about moving through life with confidence. Whether you are walking downtown, carrying groceries, skiing Big White, or heading out on the Mission Creek Greenway.
The good news? Every time you walk through the doors at MYE Studio, you’re training:
- stronger legs
- better balance
- a more engaged core
- quicker Reflexes
- your sense of proprioception
That’s winter wellness in action.
Your 2 Minute Winter Balancing Sequence
- Tree Pose
- 30 seconds each side
- Challenge: close your eyes
- Heel Lifts
- Slow and controlled lifting and lowering
- Ankle Rotations & Knee Extensions
- Rotate ankles in both directions
- Extend and flex your knee
- Hip Circles
- Rotate your hip in its maximum range of motion in both directions
- Square your hips