Why You Need a BOSU Balance Trainer (and 5 BOSU workouts)

Disclaimer: The following post is sponsored by BOSU via my partnership with Fit Approach. All opinions are, of course, my own.

Over the past few weeks, I've been playing with a new BOSU balance trainer at home—but I've been using one for years in client sessions and group fitness classes. Long story short, I'm a huge fan of working out with a BOSU. If you don't have one, I think it's an excellent investment for your home gym or collection of fitness equipment.

1) It's one piece of equipment that does so much. From balance training to cardio to targeting your upper body. You can do it all with a BOSU. You can even train it all at one time with a BOSU. My personal favorite? BOSU burpees.

A video posted by Tara (@adailydoseoffit) on Sep 16, 2015 at 8:08am PDT

2) It's worth the investment—it will last for years. The BOSU trainer comes with an initial warranty, but based on the BOSU trainers at my gym (they take a huge beating every single day), the BOSU trainer you purchase for your home gym will work out with you for years. At only $129.95 for a single BOSU trainer, you can't beat that for years of fitness fun. Just be sure to adhere to the guidelines when adding air to your BOSU. This is the only time I've ever seen a BOSU break—too much air, which compromises the plastic base.

3) The BOSU trainer enhances basic exercises, simply by standing on top of it. Squat with your feet on the floor, then squat with your feet on the BOSU trainer. You'll feel the difference immediately. Do triceps dips on a bench, then do them on top of a BOSU trainer. Forearm planks? Definitely a challenge when your hands (or feet!) are on the BOSU. For an added touch of difficulty,  flip the BOSU over and take your forearm planks up a notch:

Quick note: While it's totally possible to stand on the BOSU when the dome side is down, it is not recommended. This position is commonly reserved for hands-on moves only. Or, well...forearms, too!

4) Anyone can use a BOSU trainer. Everyone knows that a BOSU is great for balance work. True, standing on top of a BOSU might be intimidating for those with serious balance issues, but that's where the 3D system comes into play. It's essentially a base for the BOSU, complete with a handle bar...and you can also attach resistance bands to it. But the handle bar alone goes a long way in terms of helping people refine balance on the BOSU. Oh, and there's also the BOSU Sport, which is great for kids

5) It doesn't take up much space. Say what you will about those fancy cable systems built specifically for basement gyms. They're awesome. But not everyone has the space for them. The BOSU is space-savvy. Tuck it behind a chair. Throw it in a corner or closet. It gets out of the way when you don't need it. And since it's a single piece that does so much (see #1), it minimizes the amount of equipment you need to get a full-body, completely effective workout...so if you don't want a lot of fancy fitness equipment scattered about your house or apartment, get yourself a BOSU.

And then you can maybe try one of these workouts:

• Barre and BOSU Workout
• Full-Body #BOSUStrong Workout
• 30-Minute Kettlebell and BOSU Workout
• 30-Minute BOSU Burner

Question: What kind of equipment do you have at your house?