I’m not the first to write on this subject, but if I do so now, its for any of my readers who haven’t yet heard of this simple and yet effective exercise that can positively impact the next few decades of your life.

‘Jin Ji Du Li’ translates to read as ‘Golden rooster stands on one leg’. If you can picture this, you’d know by now that martial artists also adopt this stance for frontal and side kicks. However, as regards an exercise, instead of launching into attack, we stand stationary and try to hold still. This can’t be difficult for many, but try this with your eyes closed, and the outcome is going to be a’wake-up’call for those forty and above.

Here’s the kicker, if you’re in your forties: once you close your eyes, if you’re unable to maintain balance for over 10 seconds, this translates to an ageing body of sixty plus! This verdict comes out of Chi-therapy, a term you might have heard before. When we close our eyes for this exercise, the loss of balance signifies a natural ageing of co-ordination between our various internal organs. Of the various Chi-therapy methods, the Jin Ji Du Li exercise is the one that helps to slow down this regression and to improve this co-ordination. Another way of looking at this is a ‘Wellness’ therapy that doesn’t hurt or cost you to try within your own home. Just invest 2 minutes a day to improve on age-related medical & physical deficiencies

So lets try this again, preferably alongside a wall for support. Try a minute per leg, inclusive of the wobbles and falls. In time you’d find an improvement and ability to maintain balance for longer periods. With eyes closed, our internal organs strive to achieve optimum functionality read balance and the positive outcome becomes evident in better sleep, sharper memory and a spring in your step. As you read up further on this subject, you will find the most beneficial outcomes to be the control and improvement over hypertension, blood sugar, spinal problems and prevention of dementia. Yes, this exercise can be great for the brain as well. So set aside these 2 minutes a day, to regain a body and mind that should be in sync with your natural age.