5 Tips For Balance Boarding For Beginners
Whether we are standing, sitting, running, or merely carrying our bags of groceries, our 'balance' plays a fundamental role in our everyday activities. Everything comes back to our ability to stay centered and upright; however, having a perfect balance is not as effortless as it sounds, especially when it comes to sports like skimboarding and surfing.
But you can always learn with the right tool!
Specific balance tools like a balance board are the perfect way to strengthen your core, muscles, and overall posture. If you have been pondering over the idea of buying yourself a balance board and feeling skeptical about your decision, you certainly came to the right place for guidance.
Here are the top 5 tips that you can make the most of when using a balance board for the very first time:
1. Choose The Style Of Balance Board That You Are Comfortable With:
When starting off as a beginner, it is crucial that you choose the right type. There are many different types of models available in the market, such as:
Rocker Balance Boards
Spring Balance Boards
Wobble Board
Roller Balance Boards
Half Balance Balls
Before buying a balance board, make sure you choose one that you will be able to use comfortably. Gather some information regarding each type and go through their pros and cons from a beginner's perspective. Usually, the roller balance boards are the most suited for beginners as they offer the ideal training to help them polish their balancing skills.
2. Practice According To Your Needs
The best thing about using balance boards is that they can be used to improve your skills for several different sports and activities. However, if you want to use your balance board to polish your surfing or skateboarding skills, make sure you always use your balance board appropriately.
For example, to polish your skateboarding skills, put on a pair of high-quality shoes, and to train your body for surfing, practice barefoot on your balance board.
3. Choose A Rough Surface:
When using a balance board, always check its surface. It is preferable to choose a balance board with a rough surface as it will ensure that your feet won't slip. You have to consider the type of material as well.
For example;
If you are planning on buying a wooden board, you must ensure it is unvarnished and unpolished. This will give your feet optimum grip, and you won't keep slipping.
If the balance board you are using is made of plastic, remember to use a bit of gripping tape or surf wax.
4. Maintain The Right Posture:
As a beginner, remember to stand on your balance board with your shoulder width apart and keep focusing straight ahead. One important tip to maintaining your balance is to never look down and focus on looking forward. While keeping your back straight, hold your head high and steady and keep your knees slightly bent.
Your core plays a huge role in allowing you to find the right ‘balance’ to keep you steady on your board. Keeping your focus on a fixed point will keep your mind calm and alert. If you are having trouble in the initial practice sessions, try practicing in front of a desk or a chair for extra support.
5. The Knees Play A Vital Role:
Remember that your knees also play a crucial role in helping you achieve the perfect balance on your balance board.
Once you take your position, remember to keep a slight bend in your knees. If you take a fully standing up position, it will be very hard for your body to maneuver the different poses to ensure you maintain your balance. The same will happen if you bend your knees too much and slouch down. The trick is to find the perfect middle point that will help keep you grounded.
Do not forget to keep the following points in mind when maintaining your balance:
Keep your body in a comfortable position so that you can immediately react to any changes in your balance.
You can also exercise with your balance board to get more comfortable using it.
Work with your core to maintain your balance and use the muscles in your lower body to move back and forth while staying in place.
Once you get stronger in maintaining your balance, you can start sharpening other skills too. Start by learning how to roll from one side to another.
Now it is your turn, follow the steps on how to use a balance board.
Using a balance board for the very first time may seem intimidating to new beginners. However, coupled with the proper techniques and tips, anyone can master the art of balancing in no time. No matter what skill you wish to improve, you can use a balance board to enhance your skills accordingly.