Episode Details

I had no idea how much the vestibular system could affect the way we move, think, react, and navigate everyday life until this conversation with master figure skating coach and vestibular training specialist Sheila Thelen. We talk about the connection between balance, brain health, cognitive performance, reaction time, aging, sports performance, and independence and why Sheila believes these abilities can be trained throughout life.

Sheila shares how her work has expanded from elite athletes and figure skating into vestibular training for older adults, people recovering from concussions, children with sensory challenges, and military operators. We also explore neuroplasticity, fall prevention, brain speed, motion sickness, and why simply moving your head and challenging your balance may matter more than most of us realize.

What stuck with me most is the idea that getting older doesn’t automatically mean accepting declining balance, slower reactions, or less confidence in movement. There may be more we can actively train than we think.

What ability do you want to still have when you’re 80?