Today, the term “BOSU” has evolved beyond the product ("Both Sides Up") to now mean “Both Sides Utilized,” a mindful approach to exercise that steps beyond traditional training to balanced, functional training.
When we train the core at a conscious level (sit-ups, back extensions, etc.), we often forget that this is not how it is used in everyday activities. In fact, in order for us to truly find the functional benefit that added core strength can provide, it must be an "automatic" response based upon the training that it receives. For example, a client of mine recently was standing out on her elevated porch in preparation for a walk with her dog on a leash. Unexpectedly, her dog bolted after a neighborhood cat while she was still attempting to zip her jacket. Both the physics and the "gravity" of the situation propelled her down three steps to the ground--at which point, she found herself shaken, but surprisingly upright due to a barrage of balance and stability training which I incorporate into our bi-weekly sessions.
A large part of this balance and stability training is on the BOSU Balance Trainer to improve body control--a skill that must be developed in a variety of situations. This learning process includes using skill progressions that introduce instability in controlled training environments (i.e. with me!), which translate to a variety of training surfaces and movement challenges. Many real life examples, including the story I shared above, support an approach that trains muscles for movement, life, and sport--not just for sets and reps on a machine at the gym.
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