Core strength and balance made easy: Indo Board keeps you centered

By April MacIntyre May 14, 2011, 22:00 GMT

People who think they are pretty fit will have a true "come to Jesus" moment when they try out the American made Indo Board, a clever skateboard on steroids, without wheels, that is designed to roll over a grip-tape hard roll as you use core muscles and balance to stay on it and ride the wave.

People who think they are pretty fit will have a true "come to Jesus" moment when they try out the American company, Indo Board, a clever skateboard on steroids, without wheels, that is designed to roll over a grip-tape hard roll as you use core muscles and balance to stay on it and ride the wave.

My first encounter with my Original Indo Board was revelatory, as I was on the baby steps blow up grip pillow called the "flo cushion" first, allowing me to just get used to that free flowing energy of an unstable (and heavy) board beneath my feet. It took a few times, and I was finally able to mount and dismount the board without looking ridiculous.

As I built up my balance, strength and confidence, I enlisted a spotter and went to the roller - a whole new level of speed and skills needed to stay on the board and not fall. It took a full day of trying but I was able to finally stay on my board without grasping someone's hands or a wall. But it is very easy to lose control until you have a sense of your capabilities, so always do this in a spacious area, on carpeting first, and with a friend to look out for you too.

Core strength training is crucial to everyone in this day and age of sedentary workers. Working your core muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen at the same time whittles you down in the middle.  Computer chained workforces that sit and spread, their inner core muscles atrophying from lack of any challenge are legion. 

Pure cardio and weight training alone cannot address what the specific tool does like Indo Board.  Quite simply, at the very least, working your core muscles and practicing balance daily will allow you to age well and look good far longer than your peers who sit and slump all day.

There are several styles to the Indo Board that accommodate skill sets and wider stances for taller riders who need a heavier board and larger roller for a more intensive workout.  The Florida-based company even offers a special Indo Mini Pro for the advanced riders who want to hotdog it up with spins, grabs, air drops and more. This was designed with experienced skateboarders, wakeboarders, and snowboarders in mind.  My journey began on the basic beginner's board.

After just one day of using my Indo Board, I felt it all the way through my stomach and had a bit of back aches, realizing after I had watched inventor Hunter Joslin's DVD that accompanies the product, I was sticking my butt out too much and not keeping my lines center.

Indo Board founder Hunter Joslin spoke to me about his invention, and how it came to be:
  
"The design of the Indo Board came about quite by coincidence.  The evolution of the several different designs available today has been a natural progression to accommodate different size riders, different tricks, and exercises."

Joslin had an opportunity to address a need in the marketplace. "I brought the Indo Board to market because there is no form of repetitive fitness training for Surfing that is able to use actual movement patterns that surfers employ in the water. Leg strength is largely overlooked by surfers  as an important aspect of surfing. The Indo Board is the perfect form of balance and core exercise that can closely simulate surfing maneuvers."

Joslin was always intrigued by the skill of proper balance. As an avid competitive swimmer, at age 11 he had his first introduction to a homemade balance board kept by a water safety instructor at the country club swimming pool where he was a team member.

His balance board was rectangular in shape with stops on both ends; the roller was solid wood and longer than the width of the deck, which made it more stable. The balance boards were a fun diversion for the swim team members, as they would take turns trying to outdo each other, contesting the amount of time they could stay balanced without letting the deck touch the ground.

Hunter was a participant in the surfing boom of the 60's, going to the beach at every possible chance. He re-discovered one of the abandoned homemade balance boards used at the pool, which he quickly obsessed about mastering the device. Daily he rode his balance board - while doing his homework, the sidewalk or in his garage - spending hours until he was extremely proficient, inventing tricks and innovative maneuvers while his surfing skills went through the roof.

Hunter went to work for Lower Eastside Surfboards as a sander and a polisher, and then began building skateboards, as well as skimboards, and balance boards, which led to the discovery of the unique Indo Board design when he mounted a skimboard on a roller.

The rest was history, as his popular board became a favorite of trainers and pros the world over. In 1998 the Indo Board Balance Trainer was incorporated and trademarked, and a new era in balance boards was launched by Joslin.

Joslin is always quick to point out that you use the Indo Board at your own risk, and that you need to start slow, watch the instructions that accompany, and always have a spotter when doing anything new.  Also, carpet will slow down the roll and make it easier for novices like me to keep from going airborne. People who use the Indo Board report increased leg strength and flexibility.

Well worth your time and money to add to the home gym, or even your office.
www.indoboard.com

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to visit and celebrate small American and Canadian companies when she can. You can contact her on Twitter