March 25, 2024 3 min read
Balance trainers have become popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts for their ability to challenge your workouts and help you improve balance, coordination, and stability. Balance trainers are versatile pieces of equipment that can be used for a variety of exercises and activities to improve overall physical fitness. In this article, we’ll look at the various types of balance trainers, the benefits of using them, and how they can be incorporated into your workouts.
Shop The Collection: BOSU Balance TrainersBalance trainers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before making a purchase. Balance boards, also known as wobble boards, are some of the most common types of balance trainers. Balance boards are usually made of wood or plastic and are designed to rock back and forth when the user stands on it. The rocking motion helps to engage the core muscles and strengthen balance.
Shop The Gear: BOSU Home Balance Trainer, $143.99 CADBosu balls are another type of balance trainer that is often used in physical therapy and fitness classes. Bosu balls are round, inflatable balls with a flat platform on one side. When the user stands on the flat side, the ball will rock back and forth, challenging the user’s balance and coordination. Bosu balls can also be used for strength and flexibility exercises.
Shop The Collection: BOSUVew-Do boards are another type of balance trainer that is growing in popularity. Vew-Do boards are basically long, curved pieces of wood that have a platform for the user to stand on. They are designed to be ridden like a surfboard, allowing users to practice balancing while moving in different directions. Vew-Do boards can also be used for strength and flexibility exercises.
Shop The Gear: BOSU Sport 50cm Balance Trainer, $99.99 CADLastly, there are balance discs, which are small, inflatable discs that can be placed under the feet while performing certain exercises. Balance discs are designed to increase the difficulty of exercises by forcing the user to engage their core muscles in order to maintain balance.
Using balance trainers has a number of benefits, ranging from improved balance and coordination to increased overall physical fitness. Balance trainers force the user to engage and strengthen their core muscles, which can lead to improved posture and increased stability.
Using balance trainers can also help improve agility and reaction time, since the user must constantly adjust their position and posture to stay balanced. Balance trainers are also great for improving coordination and proprioception, which is the body’s ability to sense where it is in space. Improving proprioception can help reduce the risk of injury, since the user will be better able to adjust their body in order to avoid potential hazards.
Finally, using balance trainers can help increase overall physical fitness, since many of the exercises that can be done on them require the use of multiple muscle groups. This can lead to increased muscular endurance, strength, and cardiovascular fitness.
There are a variety of ways to incorporate balance trainers into your workouts. One of the simplest is to simply stand on the balance trainer for a set amount of time. This can be done with any type of balance trainer and is great for increasing core strength and improving balance. You can also add other movements, such as squats, lunges, push-ups, and jumps, to further challenge yourself.
Balance trainers can also be used for stretching and flexibility exercises. For example, you can stand on one leg while holding a balance trainer in each hand and perform a variety of stretches. Alternatively, you can stand on a balance trainer and perform yoga poses or Pilates exercises. This can help to increase flexibility and improve posture.
Finally, balance trainers can be used for strength training. For example, you can do “lunge presses” on a balance board by stepping onto it with one foot and then pressing down with the opposite heel. This exercise works the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps. You can also do squats, jumps, and other exercises on a balance trainer to further challenge your muscles.
Balance trainers are a great way to challenge your workouts and improve overall physical fitness. They can help to increase strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility, as well as reduce the risk of injury. There are a variety of ways to incorporate balance trainers into your workouts, including standing on them, stretching, and strength training. So if you’re looking for a way to take your workouts to the next level, consider incorporating balance trainers into your routine.