Diet Weight Loss - Discover the Latest Rave to Hit Fitness Centers

Discover the Latest Rave to Hit Fitness Centers

You may have seen them in the gym: half of a large rubber ball

thats flat on one side. Theyre often blue in color and look

like a gigantic outtie belly button. What are those things?

you wonder. Well theyre BOSU balls (or balance trainers). Its

the latest rave to hit fitness centers across America.

BOSU is an acronym that stands for "Both Sides Up". You can use

the balls, also referred to as trainers, or balance trainers, on

either side. Whether the rounded bouncy dome part is up or the

flat 25 inch platform side is up, youll get different types of

balance challenges.

This cross-training fitness invention has its origins in the

field of medicine, balance, functional and sports specific

training. It offers a different means to make exercise more

appealing and effective for average people, fitness fanatics and

highly trained athletes.

So what do you do with it? You can walk, run, step, hop, jump and

leap on the BOSU trainer. You can work it at an easy steady

rate-pace that can be maintained for long periods or push the

intensity with anaerobic intervals. Or do some stretching on it.

Active stretches use the muscles of the body to move a body part

whereas passive stretching uses gravity or an outside force to

put stretch-tension on the target muscle(s). While standing or

kneeling on the dome, you can move the upper body lower, higher,

to the sides or by reaching for and picking up cards from various

locations on the floor, or by touching and/or relocating cones

that have been placed in close proximity to the dome. Its great

for working your trunk too. Maintaining spinal alignment is

important to low back health and sports performance.

Many sports teams use BOSU training too. Says Bennie Wylie,

Assistant Strength Coach of the Dallas Cowboys "I implement the

BOSU trainer during our off-season program for core strength

training and rehabilitation of ankle and knee problems. It is a

great piece of equipment and gives us an important extra

dimension to our overall fitness program. Almost all of the

players use the BOSU trainer in some fashion on a regular

basis."

So the next time you overhear a conversation in the grocery store

or your friend tells you that shes going to the 5:30 p.m. BOSU

class at the Y, youll know what theyre talking about. Better

yet, give it a try yourself!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes

only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any

disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any

health care program.

About Author

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Source: ArticleTrader.com
Read more at: http://www.articletrader.com/health/fitness/discover-the-latest-rave-to-hit-fitness-centers.html.

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