How to Get Started with Balance Board
Index
- What Is a Balance Board?
- How to Get Started on Balance Board
- Are Balance Boards Good for Beginners?
- How Do You Get Good on a Balance Board?
- How Long Should You Be on a Balance Board?
- Are Balance Boards a Good Workout?
- Do Balance Boards Actually Work?
Balance board is a fitness tool, you should have. More than just a cool trick to show friends or post on Instagram, balance boards are actually incredibly helpful for your fitness and health. Plus, they’re one of the more fun exercises out there that - yes - is incredibly impressive when you master it.
So if you just got a balance board for the holidays, have one sitting around collecting dust that you finally want to use, or are just curious about how to use one before you make a purchase, we’ve put together this guide about how to get started with a balance board to help you out.
What Is a Balance Board?
A balance board is a device that has been around since at least the 1950s. Although there are different types of balance boards, their basic structure is a board set atop a roller. Balance boards are used to help test, train, and develop balance, and there are applications and uses for them in so many different fields.
From a fun toy to a training tool for athletes to a therapeutic implement (both physical and mental), balance boards have so many different benefits to the mind and body. And if you get good enough and learn some tricks, you can even get paid to show off your skills at the circus!
How to Get Started on Balance Board
The first time you try to get on a balance board, you’ll probably find yourself realizing that it’s a lot harder than some impressive, talented people make it look. But don’t worry, there’s a method you can use to get on the board and balance for the first time. All it takes is following these five easy steps.
We recommend getting started barefoot so your feet can really grip the board and on a soft, carpeted space. Clear the floor of any obstacles.
- With the back of the board touching the floor, place your rear foot on the back of the board.
- Place your front foot on the other side of the board, immediately engaging your core and starting to balance by rocking your weight forward. This is your time to get a feel for the board. It’ll probably feel pretty strange at first, but keep at it. It won’t take long to get used to the feeling.
- To give yourself a little extra help at first, you can hold on to a chair or a friend so you don’t fall onto the ground. Don’t forget to keep your knees softly bent.
- Keep your gaze steady and up toward the horizon. Don’t look down!
- Repeat again and again until you build the muscle memory to more easily balance on the board.
Are Balance Boards Good for Beginners?
When you get on a balance board for the first time and feel how hard it is and how steep the learning curve is, you might wonder if balance boards are even a good fit for beginners. But don’t worry, everybody has to start somewhere with a balance board.
You don’t have to be a pro or an athlete to get the hang of it. If your balance is really weak at first, you can always work on it off the board before starting to use the board, but as long as you take things slowly and always follow proper safety procedures, you should be totally fine. Remember, you can always work near a wall, a friend, or a doorway to help you balance. Then you can move on to trying your hand (or feet) at balance board exercises for beginners.
How Do You Get Good on a Balance Board?
Like with most things, the best way to get good on a balance board is to practice as much as possible. After all, practice does make perfect. As you spend more time on the board and improve, make sure that you’re always challenging yourself. If you get really competent at simply balancing on the board, try rolling around and throwing your balance off to see if you can catch it again.
If that becomes easy, too, you can always work on doing balance board exercises and learning balance board tricks. The important thing is to spend lots of time on the board and continue challenging yourself as you get better and better.
Pro tip: Try always to stay on top of the board, weight centered as long as you can. Keep the board off the ground.
How Long Should You Be on a Balance Board?
Especially at the beginning, using your balance board is really going to challenge the muscles of your entire body. This means that it’s important not to stay on there for too long as you can potentially overwork your muscles and get really sore. To start out with, we recommend balancing sessions of 10 to 20 minutes in length. That’s long enough to get some good practice in but not too long to the point that you’ll be putting excessive strain on your body.
As you improve at using the board, you can start making your sessions longer in length, listening to your body’s cues as to what feels safe and right for you. It’s totally safe (and even recommended) to get some practice in every day.
Are Balance Boards a Good Workout?
Balance boards are, indeed, a fantastic workout. In order to maintain your balance, you have to use the muscles of your core and your legs. Best of all, the board will also recruit all of those often-overlooked small stabilizing muscles throughout your body, helping you strengthen muscles that often aren’t used in traditional gym exercises. A killer addition to your home gym to help you challenging your core strength and balance, keeping happy and active at home.
Do Balance Boards Actually Work?
From casually stepping on your balance board roller every once in a while, to doing a full-on balance board workout, balance boards are proven to have a number of benefits including:
- Improving posture
- Improving balance and coordination
- Increasing motor skills
- Strengthening lower leg muscles
- Preventing injuries
- Rehabilitating injuries
- Contributing to weight loss
So, what are you waiting for? Hop on a balance board today or get one to start seeing your skills (and wellness) improve.
keep the board off the ground. 🤘