4″x16’x4′

The goal is to move from end to end gracefully doing “tricks” without falling off in the allotted time.  This requires from head to toe an incredible amount of balance, flexibility, strength and vision.

Balance:  throughout the course your body will move and torque though the path is direct, level and hovering 4 feet above the floor.

Flexibility: when you lose your balance, and you will, you must wiggle, waggle and wave your being around to regain your center over that 4 inch wide ground.

Strength: clear to your little toe, you will fight and grip and work with every muscle to stay on the course.

Vision: the only real way to walk from one end to the other without all the wiggle waggle is not to focus on your feet, but to focus on the end.

A few lessons I learned, that carry over into the daily grind, after countless hours trying to master the skill of the balance beam, which happens to be 4 inches wide by 16 feet long and 4 feet high.