Try these balance board exercises to improve stability, core strength & more

Balance board exercises are great for working your entire body, and also help improve your balance (obviously). Here are the five best moves to try...

A woman doing balance board exercises in a gym
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Lucy Gornall
By Lucy Gornall
published

Balance board exercises can be super-effective if you're looking to not only improve your overall strength and fitness, but also work on your, umm, balance.

Here's a simple exercise to try (just be sure to do it safely!). Shut your eyes and stand on one foot. Find yourself stumbling slightly? Yup, that’s your balance saying ‘woah, I need some work’. 

Balance is crucial for everyday life. Think about it: even just the simple act of walking requires balance. Up the intensity to a run and your body is practically hopping from the left leg to the right and staying upright – that’s all about balance to. 

That's where balance board exercises can help. Not familiar with this particular piece of fitness equipment? Typically, a balance board - also sometimes called a wobble board - features a flat, hard top attached to a rounded bottom, which creates instability when used during exercise. 

The great thing about this workout is that it features a lot of exercises you're no doubt already familiar with. If you know how to do a plank or how to do squats already then you're halfway to mastering our balance board workout.

But even if you're a complete beginner, fear not - our simple step-by-step guides will have you balance boarding like a pro in no time.

Balance board benefits

Ben Davie, a fitness trainer and the founder of Move With Ben, explains that ultimately, a balance board – yes, you guessed it – helps to improve your balance. ‘It’s a perfect way to include unilateral exercises – where we strengthen each side of the body equally. It’s these unilateral exercises that are often neglected,' he says.

What’s more, a balance board helps to develop core stability, muscular control and co-ordination.

Sound good? Grab a board and try these five best balance board exercises...

5 best balance board exercises

1. Plank holds

A woman demonstrates how to do a plank hold balance board exercise

(Image credit: Future)

Works: everything!

  • Instead of placing your hands or elbows on the ground as with a traditional plank, place your hands on either side of the balance board
  • Extend your arms and rise up onto your toes, keeping the body in a straight line and engaging every muscle.
  • Pay particular attention to keeping your spine in a straight line don't let that head sag! 
  • Beginners should aim to hold for 20 seconds then rest for another 20. Repeat five times

2. Reverse lunge

A woman demonstrates how to do a reverse lunge balance board exercise

(Image credit: Future)

Works: quads, glutes and core

  • Keeping your left foot planted in the middle of the board, slowly perform a reverse lunge. 
  • Take your right foot back and drop your right knee down to the floor. 
  • Aim for the right knee to touch the ground while keeping all sides of the balance board off the floor. Try 10 reps per side.
  • Love lunges? See more variations in our dedicated guide on how to do lunges.

3. Side squats

A woman demonstrates how to do a side squat balance board exercise

(Image credit: Future)

Works: hamstrings, quads, glutes and core

  • As per the lunge move above, start with your left foot planted on the board and your right foot on the ground, with feet hip-distance apart.
  • From here, perform a traditional squat but keep the sides of the board off the floor. This might sound easy, but trust us - it’s not!
  • Aim for 15 reps.

4. Glute bridges

Works: hamstrings, glutes and core

A woman demonstrates how to do a glute bridge balance board exercise

(Image credit: Future)
  • Lying on your back, plant your right foot in the center of the board. 
  • Lift your left foot in the air at a 90-degree angle. 
  • Lift your hips to a bridge position, then lower them back down slowly. 
  • Once you reach the bottom, thrust the hips back up. 
  • Complete 15 reps on each leg.

5. Kick sits

A woman demonstrates how to do a kick sit balance board exercise

(Image credit: Future)

Works: upper body and core

  • Start in a similar stance to the plank position, but with your hands flat on the board instead of either side. 
  • Staying low, twist and kick one leg through to the opposite side, simultaneously lifting the opposite arm off the board. 
  • Repeat both sides and increase speed once comfortable. 
  • Attempt 10 reps each side. If you find this too tricky, practice without lifting your arm and just kicking your leg to the opposite site instead.
Lucy Gornall
Lucy Gornall

Lucy is a freelance journalist specializing in health, fitness and lifestyle. She was previously the Health and Fitness Editor across various women's magazines, including Woman&Home, Woman and Woman’s Own as well as Editor of Feel Good You. She has also previously written for titles including Now, Look, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Red and The Sun. 

She lives and breathes all things fitness; working out every morning with a mix of running, weights, boxing and long walks. Lucy is a Level 3 personal trainer and teaches classes at various London studios. Plus, she's pre- and post-natal trained and helps new mums get back into fitness after the birth of their baby. Lucy claims that good sleep, plenty of food and a healthy gut (seriously, it's an obsession) are the key to maintaining energy and exercising efficiently. Saying this, she's partial to many classes of champagne and tequila on the rocks whilst out with her friends.