Absolute Guide to the Benefits of Slacklining
Imagine walking across a band of inch-wide, dynamic, nylon webbing thats slacklining in a nutshell, tricky but great fun!
With the line tensioned between two anchor points typically trees, boulders, or, for the bravest, crag to crag in the highest canyons they can find; the goal is to maintain balance and circumvent falling off.
As your skills and balance improve you can try out jumps and tricks as well. More recently gaining huge popularity the world over, its unsurprising that slacklining can be traced back to the late 70s climbing camps and communities of Yosemite National Park.
An activity historically surrounded by the stereotypes and vibes of such communities, slacklining has experienced a contemporary evolution into a popular cross-training sport for balance, core strengthening and stability - from climbing and skiing to even golf!
Although firmly establishing itself as a family friendly, fun way to keep fit and work out, slacklining has inherently become a sport itself - with pro slackliners performing flips, tricks and stunts far exceeding just walking and balancing on a slackline.
Of course, the everyday advantages of slacklining are extremely accessible being quick and easy to set up, from the park to the garden. Slacklining is perfect for people looking to incorporate outdoor exercise in to their lives, without needing a platform of pre-existing strength and endurance.
For more active users, slacklining is fast becoming THE way to incorporate fun into even the most ardent workout regimes, with the added benefit of being able to target muscles which aren't worked in traditional training at the gym.
So what can slacklining do for you?
Improves Your Balance
At the risk of stating the obvious, slacklining is a great way to improve your balance. Considering its roots in Yosemite Valley, its not difficult to see how slacklining goes hand in hand with climbing training regimes. However, the full extent of its impact on sporting performance is understated.
It is no small coincidence that athletes from a multitude of disciplines and sports have caught on to the training benefits of slacklining, especially in sports demanding a refined sense of balance such as snowboarding, skiing, surfing and wakeboarding.
Among more extreme sports, where technique is key, balance is not only essential in relation to improving skill and proficiency, it also contributes to injury prevention - there is a correlation between good balance and less frequent dangerous and uncontrolled wipe outs.
Improves Your Posture
Recent studies have shown that over half of people in the UK suffer with posture problems. Slacklining is a great activity to assist with poor posture, muscle imbalances, as well as the ailments that are associated with it - in particular slacklining has been shown to address neck and back pain.
Moreover, the dynamic aspect of slacklining allows for specific posture focused training - perfect for stance muscle and balance training for both snowboarding and skiing.
Stance training on a slackline encourages coordination and enhances core and lower body strength through consistent, intense engagement of muscles.
Great For Rehabilitation
Slacklining as an activity can be readily incorporated into rehabilitation and injury prevention programs, and it is not surprising that sports physicians and physiotherapists are implementing slacking to target damaged muscles and rehabilitate sporting injuries.
Used for rehabilitation, slacklining has been shown to provide substantially enhanced muscle activation, with significantly reduced perceived effort in comparison to traditional kinetic open and closed chain exercises.
Furthermore, slacklining initiates a neuromuscular response stimulated by the activation of full body muscle groups. Studies have also shown that not only can slacklining be used for rehabilitation exercises, but the activity also acts as a prophylactic.
The Gibbon Fitness Line or alternatively the Slackrack Fitness Line are both the perfect choice and come with hand grips for comfortable push ups, a stretch band for resistance exercises and a poster with highly effective exercise suggestions developed with sport scientists and physiotherapists.
Mindfulness
Meditation - focusing your mind on a particular thought or activity - can be used to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and even pain.
Although traditionally associated with stillness and quiet environments, meditation and meditative techniques are increasingly being fused with exercise and training for an effective personal wellbeing combination. What better activity than slacklining to incorporate into your meditation regime?
A pursuit synonymous with focus, calmness and concentration, without which you would undoubtedly fall off! Similarly to yoga, regular slacklining sessions could definitely help to bring some clarity and mindfulness into your life, alongside your regular meditation and exercise.
The Elephant Wing Set is an ideal beginner friendly slackline which leaves room for improvement in ability.
Fun
Whether you've invited your friends over for a barbeque in the garden, or you're with the family for a picnic in the park you can be sure that setting up a slackline is going to bring a lot of laughs.
The fact of the matter is that slacklining isn't as easy as it looks and the challenge will keep everyone coming back time after time, spurred on by the knowledge that every time you fall, you get better.
The portability and versatility of a slackline set up means its never too much hassle, and the diversity in tension and height ensures it can be fun for every ability level.
The Gibbon Travel Line is super simple to set up, really portable and beginner friendly.
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