Power Bag – Get The Balance Right
Balance Training
Matthew Januszek, Sales Director, Escape Fitness Limited
Balance Training is not new, in fact some argue that it has been around for centuries incorporated in such exercise forms as Tai Chi. More recently, it has been confined to world of physiotherapy but today balance training is being incorporated into workouts in health clubs and leisure centres all over the world.
Otherwise known as proprioception, having good balance is vital to performing activities for everyday life, thereby helping to maintain a healthy and independent life. Everyone, no matter what their activity level, can benefit from developing their balance system. It can help develop whole body coordination in children and young people and aid mobility and prevent falls in senior members. Balance is an essential element of training for sports people and athletes to enhance performance, but plays an equally important role in the rehabilitation of those suffering from injury. And it can also be used to prevent injury. In short, people of all ages and abilities need to keep their balance system healthy to enjoy an independent and active life.
As well as being good for you, balance training enjoys the rare privilege of actually being fun thanks to the rise of new and innovative products. These have certainly helped fuel the growth of this training technique with many pieces of balance equipment now being a common sight in health clubs – the swiss ball, being perhaps the most obvious example. But other items of kit are gradually being introduced too. These include foam rollers, balance boards, BOSUs, wobble boards, rebounders and Vew-Do Boards – inexpensive, but effective items that can be used with your larger pieces, like the dual adjustable pulley, for integrated training.
It’s easy to incorporate balance training into your clients’ workouts, but the key is to employ correct technique and progress gradually. Balance training should form part of your members’ standard exercise routine that includes strength, flexibility, anaerobic and aerobic conditioning, regardless of their level of fitness. Working out on foam rollers and stability balls can be used to help train posture and stabilization in those suffering from low back pain for example, while seniors and special populations may need to stand on one leg with their eyes closed before progressing to a balance board.
Some operators have gone a step further by creating dedicated functional spaces in their facilities featuring a wide range of equipment. For example, the new Wellnessolande facility in Rotterdam developed a functional fitness room to drive personal training revenue. It includes a combat zone with a boxing platform, kettlebells, punch bags, Powerbags; a SAQ and stabilisation area equipped with a sprint track, plyometric platforms, medicine balls and a medball reactor; a free-weight zone and a stretch area. The area works because it’s fun and effective. The variety of equipment means that members don’t get bored and they are improving their exercise and functional performance at the same time. A winning combination for everyone.
