I’m not good at balancing and I’m very clumsy so anything that requires coordination is not my forte.
Yet balance is involved in everything we do: sitting in a chair, running, carrying groceries or a child, or even just standing still depend on your ability to stand upright and stay centered. Balance is a key skill that tends to decline as we age, increasing the risk of falls. Unfortunately, our increasingly sedentary lifestyles limit the natural opportunities to improve our balance, yet it is an essential skill to maintain.
As a personal trainer, I frequently have my clients do unilateral movements to improve balance, so I decided it was time to take my own advice. Wobbleboard on Amazon I decided to continue exercising using the balance board for a month.
What is a Wobble Board?
Wobble boards, also known as balance boards, usually have a flat, hard top and a rounded bottom, making them unstable when in use. This forces the body to stabilize itself, helping to improve balance. They are also great for unilateral exercises, strengthening both sides of the body equally.
Buy a Wobble Board
AmazonBasics Wobble Board
Amazon sells this private label board in the US for $15.99.
This model has additional handles for unstable planks and push-ups.
What I learned from 4 weeks of balance training
Balance has improved dramatically
When I first got my wobble board I struggled to even stand on it, let alone move, but after a week I was balancing on one foot and by the end of the month I was doing squats.
(Image credit: Maddy Biddulph / Future)
I felt like my core was stronger
The Wobble Board constantly engages your core to maintain balance, recruiting and strengthening all of your core muscles while also building stamina and improving overall stability. This has resulted in improved performance in other exercises as well – I can now hold planks for longer and weighted Russian twists are noticeably easier.
Improved focus and productivity
Balance training not only develops the often neglected stabilizing muscles, it also awakens your inner focus. Front yard It improves your muscles and musculoskeletal system, as well as your proprioception (your ability to sense your body’s position in space). After using the Wobble Ball for a few weeks, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my focus and attention, which was an unexpected bonus.
Improved posture and coordination
Balance is a complex skill that involves the brain, muscles, and inner ear. Failing to practice and maintain balance can lead to poor coordination between these three systems, poor posture, and potential injury.
Using the balance board allowed me to learn natural human static and dynamic postures, and with practice, after four weeks my posture and coordination had improved significantly.
