By Lisa Snow, NYC Personal Trainer

What the heck is a BOSU ball?  It’s a big, round rubber ball cut in half, and filled with air.  The flat side is black, while the dome side is usually blue.  You can sit, stand, or kneel on it to do a wide variety of exercises.

1) Helps tone and define your abs, arms, legs, and glutes (butt)

2) Strengthens and stabilizes your core (abs, obliques, and low back) to reduce risk of back injuries, and can be used as part of the rehab process if you are already injured.  For example, while doing a plank, try putting your elbows on the blue dome side of the BOSU.  (Be sure you can do a regular plank on the floor for at least 30 seconds before trying this.)

3) Can also be used for cardio, step, and circuit training (where you put several exercises back to back with no rest time in between to get your heart rate up)

4) Adds a balance element to every exercise.  For example, put the flat side down on the floor and stand on top of the dome, then try to do a set of squats.

5) It’s easy to stash under your bed or in the closet when not in use (just don’t leave it there too long!)

6) Widely available in gyms and fitness studios, where you can use it by yourself or have a trainer show you some new moves

7) And if you want one for home, at $130-160, they’re a way better deal than a $3,000 treadmill!  Not to mention more fun to use!  (And no, I don’t sell BOSUs.)

8) Increases the variety in your routine.  For example, if you’ve been doing the same old dumbbell bicep curls forever, try doing step-ups (where you step up to the dome of the BOSU, then back to the floor repeatedly) while doing your curls.

9) Combines well with other pieces of equipment, like medicine balls.  For example, try standing or kneeling on the BOSU while pressing a weighted ball overhead, then returning it to your chest.  (Repeat 10-15 times.)

10) The BOSU will make you feel like a kid again!

Lisa is ready to show you how to use the BOSU Ball to reach your fitness goals.