Gledis moves for steadiness
“To me it’s like the best meditation, because I truly need to empty my mind, and just breathe in order to keep focused and steady.”
Gledis was introduced to slacklining two years ago and fell in love with the challenge immediately. What began as balance practice became a ritual that steadies her mind, supports healing, and keeps her body functioning well over time.
Gledis rarely lets a week go by without moving her body. “There are very few days in my week where I do not move my body in some way,” she says. Movement is not one single sport for her. It is a system of support, with different activities creating different feelings in her spirit.
Slacklining is the anchor. “Slacklining is the best parallel for keeping my mind steady, not wavering with emotions,” she says. Running helps her with anxiety. Yoga keeps her centered and focused on her spiritual journey. Muay Thai, she says, kept her ego in check. “Everything plays its part in a different way,” she says.
She started slacklining two years ago after a friend introduced her to it. When she bought her own line online, she could barely walk on it. It took three months before she could walk the line, and the slow progress only deepened her commitment. “I loved it from the moment I stepped on it, because of how challenging it was,” she says.
One idea changed how she approached the practice. Someone told her she is the one who moves the line. “So I hold myself accountable when I step on it each time,” she says. For Gledis, focus is not optional. “To me it’s like the best meditation,” she says, “because I truly need to empty my mind, and just breathe in order to keep focused and steady the line.”
Her sessions follow a simple ritual. She goes to the park, sets up her line, does a little yoga beforehand, and practices until her body feels sore and tells her to stop. The session is usually followed by meditation, then she packs up and goes home. She loves the edge of the challenge. “I love the challenge of it, embracing my fears, and overcoming them,” she says.
Gledis trains in other ways too. She runs, sometimes weight trains, keeps a daily yoga practice, and trains in Muay Thai. She also follows curiosity and is currently teaching herself to skateboard.
Her inspiration is rooted in healing and longevity. She explains that she comes from trauma and believes trauma can stay stuck in the body without movement. She also loves the exhilaration of staying active. “Knowing it is helping me keep my body functioning optimally is my biggest inspiration,” she says. “If I can keep my body functioning optimally until old age I would be really happy,” she adds.
She has noticed physical changes from slacklining, too. She says her hips and spine began to realign, her posture improved, and her coordination became stronger.
The setbacks she faces are mostly mental and emotional, but she continues to return to the line. She is inspired by highliners who stay on the line for long stretches, and she also credits her own drive. “I constantly strive to be a better person in all aspects of my life,” she says. Slacklining is one place she practices that commitment.
Gledis moves for steadiness.