Have you ever heard of a balance board? Me neither. But, they make sense especially with core conditioning. It is one of the first time my then-trainer worked on. My lack of balance. Okay, and then there was those really weak core muscles. So, if you are like me, core strengething is key since we aren’t all ballerinas anymore. (Some of us still wear the tiara. Not naming names.)
Tony Little move on over…
So, when I read about the Lotus Balance Board which is made out of FSC certified maple or bamboo, I was intrigued not just because it was sustainable but because of what it could do for me. 4 babies later and wrecked abs.
Okay, give us the green part.
Not only is the board made out FSC Certified lumber, the tubes are made out of 100% post consumer goods as well as FSC Certified Lumbers or Urban Recovered Wood for the end caps. No plastics here. And everything is made in the good ole US of A.
So what’s it going to do for me?
According to the website,
“Originally produced for skiers and then surfers to practice their skills in the off season and at night, a balance board is a device that has come to be used for training in all sports and martial arts, for physical fitness and for non-athletic purposes.
Balance boards are used to develop balance, motor coordination skills, weight distribution and core strength; to prepare people, before and after they reach old age, to avoid injurious falls in old age; to prevent sports injuries , especially to the ankle and knee ; and for rehabilitation after injuries to several parts of the body.”
The inventors of the board developed the sustainable board with their own needs in mind. They state:
“We needed a vehicle for staying fit for our outdoor activities during those rainy days, and wanted to have more fun than sweating it out in the gym.”
Is it ever fun to sweat in the gym?
What Are Others Saying:
I love reading testimonials. Here is on that I liked since so many people could relate. Jeffrey Nash writes,
” I have been using the balance board as an integral part of a physical therapy program – 6 months ago I suffered a shattered pelvis and wasn’t able to walk for 3 months. The balance board—in addition to being a very entertaining, relaxing and painless form of therapy—is key in rebuilding overall leg and hip strength. More importantly, it does what other parts of therapy can’t do, which is work on strength and control the small muscle fibers that rapidly fire to keep your core aligned and centered—the same fibers that atrophied while I was on crutches and that I can’t rebuild just pushing weights. My physical therapist recommended a daily dose of balance board (along with a lot of other really painful things) as part of my therapy program—and for this part I was happy to comply!”
To be honest, this board look like a very hard work-out. Now there are warnings on how to use this board like starting on carpet at the beginning.
The price for the sustainable exercise board start at $112 for the maple, and $150 for the bamboo. So, if you dream of hanging ten or want to get those neglected core muscles in shape, consider buying one of these green balance boards.
I can see it now. I will be flipping channel and there will be an info-merical with the likes of Denise Austin or Chuck Norris showing the benefit of saving the Earth and strengthening your core muscles. Can’t you just see it?
So, how is your core muscles? How well can you balance on one foot? Could you use one of these green bad boys?
Condo Blues says
September 20, 2010 at 3:35 pmI’ve seen the board and plank balance boards mostly used by jugglers. I used something similar in physical therapy to rehabilitate my ankle after surgery. It was definitely a workout!