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 optimally for the long run.
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, for her, is not one single sport. It is a system of support, with different practices creating different emotional and spiritual effects.
Slacklining is the anchor. “Slacklining is the best parallel for keeping my mind steady, not wavering with emotions,” she says. Running helps 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 slackline online, she could barely walk across it. It took three months before she could walk the line. The slow progress did not discourage her, it hooked her. “I loved it from the moment I stepped on it,” she says, “because of how challenging it was.”
One phrase changed how she approached the practice. Someone told her she is the one who moves the line. The idea stayed with her, turning slacklining into accountability. “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 training sessions follow a quiet ritual. She goes to the park, sets up her line, and often does a little yoga first. Then she 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. The process is simple, but the effect is deep. “I love the challenge of it,” she says, “embracing my fears, and overcoming them.”
Gledis trains in other ways too. She runs, sometimes weight trains, maintains a daily yoga practice, and trains in Muay Thai. She also follows curiosity. “Anything that may pique my interest,” she says. Recently, she has been teaching herself how to skateboard.
Her inspiration is rooted in healing. Gledis explains that she comes from trauma, and that trauma can stay stuck in the body without movement. She also loves the exhilaration of staying active, especially because it supports long term function. “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 says.
She has also noticed physical changes from slacklining. As she practiced, her hips and spine began to realign, and her posture improved. She says she now has better coordination and can walk straighter than before.
The setbacks she faces are not physical as much as mental and emotional, but she continues to return to the line. She is inspired by elite slackliners and highliners who cover long distances and stay on the line for an hour or more. 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.
What practice helps you breathe, focus, and feel steady in your body? Share your story here!