The Balanced

Method

The Balanced Method

TM
Combining physical therapy and group fitness expertise to build accessible, effective, and joyous fitness for healthy aging.
01
OUR GOAL IS —
To enhance and extend the healthspan* within a lifespan
Improving an individual’s fitness makes them more resilient to illness and disability thereby extending their healthspan.
*
healthspan
[noun] the length of time that you are healthy and able
HEALTHSPAN
POOR HEALTH
REGULAR HEALTHSPAN
NORMAL AGING
POOR HEALTH
OPTIMAL LONGEVITY
OPTIMAL HEALTHSPAN with BALANCED
LIFESPAN
02
HOW IT WORKS —
The Science Behind It
The Balanced Method is designed to specifically address the physiological changes that occur to our bodies as we age.
Our classes are aimed at improving strength, cardiovascular endurance, stability, and mobility — the four cornerstones of healthy aging.

Every exercise has been carefully chosen and programmed based on the best available evidence.
03
OUR PROMISE —
All Balanced Classes Are
Accessible
Classes at Balanced include modifications for mobility and pain that provide a starting place for everyone
Scalable
Every class is programmed with progressions and regressions —allowing members to choose the moves that work best for them
Appropriately challenging
Exercise intensity determines its effectiveness. Our classes have an emphasis on personalizing effort to maximize physiologic change
Empathetic
All classes are built with our loved ones in mind and are delivered with kindness. Our goal is to improve every member’s self-efficacy, resilience, and quality of life.
04
COMPARISON —
How Balanced is Different
The Balanced Method™
Other Fitness Platforms
Movement Type
Compound movements
Single-joint movements
What
Uses multiple muscle groups at the same time to perform a movement
Tends to focus on a single muscle or muscle group
Exercise Selection
Bicep curl with overhead reach
Seated Full Body Dumbbell
Strength w. Carlos (15 Mins)
Bicep curls
Why
This translates to real-life movements, like helping you get strong and stable lifting items into cabinets, etc.
Aesthetics
Plane Movement
Multi-plane movements
Single-plane movements
What
Focuses on all 3 planes of motion: Saggital (forwards and backwards), Frontal (side-to-side), and Transverse (twisting)
Tends to focus only on one plane of motion
Exercise Selection
Lunge with a trunk twist
Balanced Flows w. Michelle &
Frida (30 Mins)
Forward lunges
Why
Life happens in 3 dimensions! We build strength using functional patterns you’ll encounter in everyday life
The focus is on how well you can do a specific exercise rather than how well your entire body can move
Exercise Prescription
Time-based exercise periods
Repetition-based sets
What
Do however many you can, in the specific modification you can do it, in a given duration
Do a specific number of repetitions in a specific number of sets
Exercise Selection
As many as YOU can do in 30 seconds
Pilates: Center and Side Core
w. Linda (15 Mins)
10 repetitions, repeated 3 times
Why
No one gets left behind in a Balanced class. Time-based exercise allows you to move at your own speed, adjusting the intensity of exercise to fit your needs.
Focus is on rep range and training volume
Considerations for Joint Pain
Modifications offered
One-size-fits-all
What
Modifications that avoid irritation and personalize movements.
Everyone is prescribed to do the same movement without consideration for pain or pain threshold
Example
If reaching overhead hurts your shoulder, below-shoulder options are offered.
Stretch: Full Body, Feel
Better w. Ginna (10 Mins)
Do overhead reach with full range of motion
Why
80% of adults report joint pain. At Balanced we don’t believe that joint pain should limit your ability to exercise and build health.
Pushing the limit is often the mantra
05
WHO CREATED THE BALANCED METHOD? —
Our Clinical Team
Leading physical therapists and certified trainers worked together to create The Balanced Method™.  Together, they have decades of experience working in fitness studios and with the aging population.
Dr. Andrew Ward, PT, DPT, CSCS
Physical Therapist
Dr. Rob Landel, PT, DPT, FAPTA
Clinical Director
Bradford Rahmlow, NASM CPT
Head of Trainer Talent
06
GET STARTED —
Try The Balanced Method™ and see the difference for yourself