can the Bosu substitute for the step?

[beanqueen]

hi,

as i continue my 'aquatic adventures', i still love stepping with cathe. i was wondering, re: the bosu...it seems like it would be relatively low impact, right? (never tried it) do you think it could be substituted for the step in use for step workouts? or is it something that requires a specific 'bosu workout'??

thanks so much!
bq

 

[Boybert]

Hiya beanqueen! Isn't the Bosu that half ball thingy? I don't think I would replace the step with that. I think there would be safety issues involved. I think I would keep Bosu workouts only on there. Just my thought

"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie

 

[amybmomofthree]

You can do a lot of step movements on the Bosu quite safely. Basic steps, knee repeaters, side and back lunges, and a bunch more that I can't think of off the top of my head. You'd have a hard time doing a whole Cathe video with the Bosu instead of the step just because of the complex choreography. Mambos and around the worlds would be a challenge! There are some good Bosu videos out there. If I were you I would start out doing step movements at a slower pace maybe without any music, just to get used to the unstable surface.

 

[Dani53]

Exactly what Amy said! You can modify and do a lot of stuff on the BOSU (which I love by the way ) but it is way too wobbly for much of Cathe's routines. Not to mention it is bigger around at the base than you would imagine. You really have to be careful with placement of your feet.

I fully endorse the BOSU, just get the workouts intended for that piece of equipment.

 

[Carol_is_fit]

The BOSU is designed to be stepped up on, bounced on, etc. It was designed by a physical therapist and the BOSU workout development team includes Mindy Mylrea, Rob Glick, Candace Copeland Brooks, Douglas Brooks, Gay Gasper, and Keli Roberts. The BOSU workouts (especially Mindy's and Rob's) feature plenty of impact and dancy cardio using the BOSU. It works your core as well because of the balance challenge. The impact isn't the same as a step though so it's perfect for folks like me with knee issues. I wouldn't attempt to do a step workout on it your very first time using it, but it's not unsafe. You can fall off a step or rebounder just as easily. Like me - LOL!!

Carol

 

[Pedmom]

I use my bosu for lots of stuff besides bosu workouts. Step it Strong with Keli Roberts is a step/sculpting workout that works wonderfully on it, just to name one.
Jill

 

[Boybert]

my bad folks. I only saw the pic & never used one so I thought maybe that would be hard. guess there are always safety concerns w/ anything you use - especially for me who is an el klutzo


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"

Debbie

 

[kathryn]

Ditto on what Amy and Dani say. Though it's doable to use the Bosu for some BASIC step workouts, like the Firm (up, up, down; straddle steps; slower paced basic moves), even some Kathy Smith step workouts. But NO WAY would I use it for more complex step tapes, like Cathe's.

 

[Pedmom]

Yes, to clarify, I am not advocating trying something like Rythmic Step on the bosu! But Basic Step would definitely work. I find my legs get a MUCH harder workout on the bosu vs. the step. I think it's because you can't get your leg all the way straight when you step up, so your quads are always engaged. It rocks!

 

[beanqueen]

thanks, everybody. the bosu sounds like a viable canidate for helping w/ some of my impact issues for my knees.

i also have kathy smith's "power step" anybody remember that? it's a wood step bench, with a slight bowing...and it has a bit of spring/bounce or something to it... for 'power moves'..hmm...wonder if that would work in lieu of my step for cathe and christi's???

either way, the bosu is something i'm seriously considering..supposedly they're on sale at target..but my local target didn't have any. time to do the '25 mile radius target circuit' in search of the bosu!

thanks everybody!

 

[Carol_is_fit]

Beanqueen, I'll keep an eye out for one that's on sale and if I see it, I'll post it here. I agree they are an expensive investment.

To everyone, I also was not advocating attempting Imax 3 or something similar on the dome!! LOL!! But basic step moves with hops and straddles and such like they do in the BOSU workouts is doable. I had to work up to those - there's a huge balance issue going on when you do cardio on that thing!!

Carol