Exercise – Rail Balance Pivots or Half-Turns

Learning to pivot on a rail is a fundamental skill for rail balance that will unlock your potential for more techniques, safe dismounts, and stronger coordination.

Find your standing position on a rail. Stay relaxed and in control as you slowly begin to shift your weight to the balls of your feet. As you feel the weight come forward, begin to rotate at the ankles and follow with your hips and torso. You’ll continue until both feet are perpendicular to the rail. Use your arms as counterweights to maintain balance. Here the weight should be positioned at the front of the ball with the toes “grabbing” or “holding” the rail. You can initiate a rail squat for another challenge or pivot back to the original position.

The Rail Pivot (Half Turn) opens you up to a wide variety of movement to connect with standing or walking rail balance.

• Incorporate rail squats for building general lower leg strength
• Tie in with walking balance to scale a full length of a rail down and back
• See if you’re able to perform a full 180 rotation