The daily huddle, is when everybody has never looked so forward to visiting your desk. They come in crowds, and everybody has a turn. I have bought a new toy, and everybody is playing with it. It is like something they have never seen before. And it isn’t long before a contest begins in claim for a winner.
image from amazon.com
I have received the Reebok Balance Board, a flat circular plank with a rounded base that will challenge all the muscles in your body whilst you stand on it.
The Feel
I chose the balance board over the bosu ball simply because I find the balance board offers a more challenging experience, and I fancy challenges. The bosu ball has a wider surface area, which makes it easier to balance on, especially with the soft inflatable base. The balance board on the other hand is made of a hard plastic material all around that is not as forgiving while you are trying to negotiate your balance.
It is about 37.5cm across in diameter, small enough to carry around, and is very light in weight. The small dimples on the surface provide a non-slip platform for your feet, with or without shoes. The hard plastic compound is very rigid, and is claimed to support 250 lbs. I’ve had my balance board for a few months now, I use it almost everyday, and it has seen the feet of all of my friends, big and small, and it still feels the same as when I received it from the first day.
To really use it properly, you need to loosen your legs, soften your knees, and focus on tightening your abs by drawing your belly button into your body. And when you become a regular at it, try to mix up your routine by doing squats, or even reading a book. Reading is a tricky one. Once your line of sight loses that horizontal plane, your balance and co-ordination becomes unstable, and your legs start to wobble.
I can stand, and read a book for over 10 minutes.
Where to buy?
My balance board was purchased online from Amazon (you can see it here).
Amazon offers shipping to Australia.
The price of the board is $17.99, with a shipping cost of $11.84 (usd).
Squeaky’s Verdict
I was in need of strengthening my core and improving my balance, and believed I have found the right tool that was built for this purpose. Certainly not for claiming a champion balancer that can hold their position the longest. Although now that I think about it, who decides what purpose an instrument is built for?
It has been months since I have been on the balance board, and I can truly say that my core strength has increased. I can hold my planks longer without shaking after a minute, and able to do heavier exercises at more repetitions. My balance and co-ordination has improved, it certainly helps me in snowboarding and my body balance classes. Not to mention, it is also a great entertainment tool. I give the balance board a thumbs up, and will recommend it to anybody who wishes to have a bit of fun with their core exercises.
Want to be popular at work? Buy a new toy and have it delivered to your office.
