BOSU Balance Trainer

by Stephanie Oakes

The fitness world is going to ‘flip out’ over this new workout offered
exclusively at Crunch Fitness, the leaders in developing innovative group
fitness programming. The class is called BOSU Bootcamp, which is designed
around the unique BOSU Balance Trainer. One side of the unit is composed of
a vinyl dome inflated to a height of 12” (picture a physioball sliced in
half) with the other side a 25” wide, flat platform. BOSU, an acronym for
‘both sides up,’ is named for the unit’s special ability to be ‘flipped’
during the workout revealing different surfaces, each with its own
advantages. The surface exposing the raised dome is utilized for
cardiovascular and core exercises, while the platform surface is used for
strength training.

In almost all cases, gravity is considered our friend…otherwise we’d all be
floating in space! In the instance of working out on a stable surface
however, gravity supports you but limits the amount of muscle firing during
your workout. In BOSU Bootcamp that built-in ‘support system’ gets taken
out of the equation and gravitational force is used to one’s advantage!

BOSU Bootcamp challenges participants by constantly changing one’s center of
gravity, providing a workout that develops incredible levels of core
stability and balance. Training on both the dynamic, gel-like surface of the
air-filled dome and on the raised platform requires a collaborative effort by
your muscles to counteract the forces of gravity, harness reaction forces and
overcome inertia caused by momentum. BOSU Bootcamp challenges the whole body
to participate in order to maintain correct body positioning and balance
which results in improved posture, alignment and a more muscular body. All
of these benefits carry over into real-life and sport applications and the
shifting of gravity also helps to reduce repetitive impact on the joints and
help the body to avoid injury (through increased flexibility and reflex
reactions).

Participants of all fitness levels can participate in BOSU Bootcamp. In
fact, just stepping on and off the BOSU will immediately reap rewards of
increased body awareness and balance. The class exercises include lunges,
squats, cardiovascular activity, abdominal work, pushups and tricep
extensions. Each exercise can be modified and performed to accommodate any
fitness level!

www.bosu.com