Benefits of Slacklining

Slacklining can improve your balance, posture and concentration. Some people use this sport to clear their minds and relax from work. Your core strength will improve and you may feel more focussed and flexible.

Some sports and equipment aim to develop muscles through a repetitive onesided physical exercise. However this means that non-active muscles are liable to waste away. These non-active core muscles are very important in supporting our (back and stomach) musculature.

Some medical practitioners and professionals advocate slacklining, particularly for its ability to improve proprioception and co-ordination.

Proprioception:

• The body´s own sense of its position in space.
• The sense of power between the muscles and fibres within the body
• Ability to sense and identify direction of movement

Proprioception training, builds up muscle to support the rest of the body. This means the body is less prone to common injuries, such as twisted ankles. The result of continuous slacklining is the strengthening of the spine, back and stomach-musculature and additional support for ankles, knees and hip joints. Slacklining can prevent the body from injury and/or rehabilitate.

To have good balance means...

• Co-ordination and strength that increases the general state of health
• Safety in every day movements and sports activites.
• Reduced risk of incorrect joint weightbearing, less joint problems
• Reduced risk to injury

The older we get, the less we are able to balance. Therefore we recommend continuous balance training for everyone. Balance is the foundation for every athlete - amateur or professional.

History of Balance

Balance is essential in our lives. Nature is the master of cycle and balance. The idea to balance on something is an important part of many cultures. In Ancient Greek and Roman times this art and practice was well known.

The initial dance-like movements on a slim rope developed to a rudimentary form of tightrope walking, with different levels of difficulty. There are reports from the Middle Ages describing huge celebrations and spectacles where the main attraction was a tightrope walker. In the 19th Century, Blondin and Farini were world renown tightrope artists. They staged daring feats, such as crossing a highline over Niagara falls.

	In many Asian countries tightrope walking is part of traditional culture. In Korea, the Jultagi, is a specific tightrope acrobatic art and forms part of the cultural heritage.
	Korea - Jultagi Tight Rope Walker, picture by Matt Scott

Philippe Petit facinated many people with his daring "free-solo" crossing the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. In the early morning of 7 August 1974 Petit hovered for about 1 hour above the awakening city. The stunt was illegal, and he was arrested by the police. As a penalty, he had to deliver a presentation of his artistic tightrope walking to children in Central Park, NYC. To learn more about Petit and his daring feats check out the great documentary "Man on Wire".

The Slackline itself was born in the early 1980s in Yosemite-Valley, California, USA by rock climbers looking at ways to improve balance. It also proved to be a successful means to practice and have fun when no rock climbing was possible due to wet weather.

Adam Grosowsky and Jeff Ellington were the first guys to walk a Slackline. Unlike the traditional tightrope walking, with steel wire or hemp rope, they used polyamide-webbing that is a lot more dynamic, light and comfortable to use. The advent of the dynamic webbing system established a totally new era for balance movement.

This Millennium has seen more slacklines arriving in Europe. This is because Slacklining develops the skills required for Surfing, Snowboarding/Skiing, Skateboarding and Rock climbing. The parks and town centres are now the new playgrounds for urban balancing.

Slacklining first established as a play and training exercise for balance and co-ordination. After further research, slacklining was considered to assist with psychological barriers and create a feeling of freedom in indiviuals.

The latest development is the intergration of slacklining into Physical Therapy and Physical Education (PE) in schools.

Slacklining is enjoyable for all, alone or with friends, you can have an awesome experience on the red line of life.

Slacklining is available now! Our complete slackline solutions will get you on-line.

Your balance is keeping you vital!