Saturday, April 20, 2013

Is the BOSU Balance Trainer Right for You?

By Tony Gillis


For those who don't know what a BOSU trainer is, it is essentially a half exercise ball on one side, and on the other it is a a hard plastic base. This exercise equipment was invented in 1999, and is now widely used in gyms around the world. Fitness trainers often use the BOSU as part of their balance training sessions.

The issue with using this piece of equipment is that not enough athletes know what kind of workouts to do on it. Nor do they understand the fitness benefits of using the BOSU. In this post, we will explore the benefits of the BOSU Balance Trainer, along with some simple BOSU exercise that one can include in their workouts. This piece of versatile equipment is not just excellent as a warm up tool, but one can use it to complete a full exercise routine if one wishes.

Benefit #1: Intensifies the Workout

Weight machines at the gym allow you to focus on building muscle strength and endurance. They force you to follow a particular track when you push or pull. If you are doing free weights such as dumbbells or bar bells, these equipment allow you more freedom and flexibility when doing exercises. This is where the BOSU comes in as the extra challenge. It forces your core to be stabilized throughout the entire exercise, thus adding a secondary focus. Doing simple exercises such as lunges, dumbbell raises, or squats become more difficult with the addition of the BOSU trainer.

Benefit #2: You Only Need One BOSU

The BOSU Trainer is extremely versatile, given that it can be used for flexibility, balance, and even strength workouts. By being able to be used on both sides, it gives users a variety of different types of exercises. For example, push ups on the BOSU can be done on the flat side or the round side. The exercise is the same, but the BOSU allows the user to focus on different muscle groups. In thirty minutes, the BOSU Trainer alone gives anyone an opportunity to complete a full body workout.

Benefit #3: Keep Workouts Fun!

If it isn't fun, why bother doing it! Keeping fit and workout out should be kept fun, or else we wouldn't want to do it. If we kept doing the same weights on the same muscles day after day, it'll be quick for us to hit a physical and mental "block". We won't be motivated to achieve our fitness goals when we're bored. The BOSU Trainer is the best way to keep it interesting. It is a piece of equipment that we can always challenge ourselves with. Even professional athletes use the BOSU to avoid plateaus in their growth.

Benefit #4: Easy Storage, No Maintenance Required

I personally have a BOSU ball at home, and I use it on a regular basis. It required a one time set-up of about ten minutes, and takes up minimal space in my apartment (I don't even notice it's there half the time). There are days going to the gym is a big hassle, so my workout will consist of watching TV for 45 minutes while doing exercises on the BOSU. The BOSU also weights only about 20-30 pounds so it's very easy to move around from one place to another.

Simple Workouts to Try on the BOSU

Here are a few exercises for your trial run of the BOSU. Use these standard workouts to see if the BOSU is right for you.

1) Front Plank: Just like the picture posted below, put your elbows on the round side of the BOSU. Flex your core and plank your body like so. Try to keep your whole body level, as your bum may try to stick up or your back will arch downwards.

2) BOSU Push ups: Following the photo below, get in push up position by having your hands place on the flat side of the BOSU. Perform ten to thirty push ups. Tighten your core muscles in the same way as in the front plank position.

3) Lunges on the BOSU: Following the picture below, place one foot on the BOSU and get into a lunge position. Perform ten to thirty lunges, with alternating feet.

I would have to say that the BOSU Trainer offers a lot more benefits and versatility than traditional dumbbells or barbells. Whether you want to enhance your workout at the gym or wish to do great exercises at home, a BOSU Trainer, in my point of view, is definitely a worthwhile fitness investment.




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