When Wayfair asked me to choose an item for myself to celebrate Back to School, I was stumped. I shook my head in an effort to clear away the pencil sets, glue sticks, and Star Wars backpacks that were overtaking my mental space and forced myself to concentrate hard.
What do I want for ME? I have spent the past three months loving the the gorgeousness of summer while simultaneously beating my head against a wall praying that the school bus would hurry up and get here. What have I been longing for during that time? Crazy things, like time to chip away at this blogging gig, catch up on watching Astronaut Wives while folding laundry so I don’t feel too indulgent, make yet another pass at my attempts to firm up… you know, all the insane crazy fantasies of a WAHM.
So I thought and thought.
And then I remembered.
A Bosu Ball.
A what? And why?
You see, once upon a long, long ago, in the far away land of Before Kids, I worked as a Fitness Consultant at a gym. I’ll wait while you find a seat to recover from the shock…But it’s true, I really did. I got paid to work out with clients and teach them ways to build strength and get in shape. It was awesome, and I loved it.
After cranking out some harsh hours in grad school, I’d pop over to the gym and play it out on the circuit with a heady amount of focus on the Bosu Balls. I never knew exactly what I was doing; in college I had taught step aerobics (another I know), and I would work out whatever moves I remembered from this time with a bunch of random hops and jumps. It was blast.
I was in the best physical shape of my life and despite endless sleepless nights filled with paper-writing and lots of stressing over how we’d ever get bills paid, in so many ways, these were my Glory Days. They were fabulous and they were fun.
Fast-forward 10 years, 1 dog, 2 houses, and 2 kids later, and you find yourself at my current life situation. One without a lot of “random hops and jumps”, many extra pounds, and a whole, whole lot of playdates, panic over getting the proper art shirt for 1st grade and wondering whether or not I can pack peanut butter in my son’s lunch box. It’s a life that very possibly needs reclaimed.
A life that could very possibly benefit from the fun of bosu ball. And the fitness benefits: it allows you to combine all elements of fitness with one apparatus. Cardiovascular, toning and flexibility are all schooled with the Bosu Ball. Game on, friends.
I knew what I had to order for myself. It was time to welcome back the Bosu Ball. High time.
My kids aren’t objecting; in fact, they love it. The coolest toy Mommy has bought in years. A win-win, I’d say?
While Jillian has served me well, so very well, in the past years, it is time to move on. Move on to the Bosu Ball and all of the magical bouncing and harkening back to a time in my life that didn’t include a sizable muffin top. A time when I regularly knew that exercising was fun and something to be enjoyed. A time when a part of me was a little more me.
Hello, Bosu Ball. Let’s get this party on.
****Many thanks to Wayfair for encouraging me to reconnect with a part of myself that I loved and sponsoring this post. Back to School is many, many things to a mom, but slicing out care for ourselves is one of the most important parts. Get Back to YOU, moms!****
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Artadorned says
Ha! That’s awesome! If I have to pick one thing it would be my work out outfits.
http://www.artadorned.com
Meredith says
Isn’t it crazy how sprucing up your workout duds can make such a difference? 😉
Estelle says
And now I need a Bosu Ball, if only to see my daughter jump down on it and bounce off it, like yours did.
Meredith says
Right? 😉
Erika says
Sometimes I just randomly come across old posts of yours and read them again, I would love to see you teach step aerobics!! I taught aqua aerobics in the pool from 1995-2002!~ Isn’t that crazy? I love the pool and always had a knee or ankle injury going on, so aqua aerobics was always the best bet for me 🙂 It’s so strange to think about it now–another lifetime!
Meredith says
I can’t say how much I love that you still chance upon these old posts! And that you taught aqua aerobics! The good old days, right? 😉 xo
Janine Huldie says
Can totally see why this is still by far your favorite and definitely made me smile this morning. Thanks Meredith 🙂
Jennifer says
I came upon your post on Bosu balls and was happy to see it. I am a physical education teacher in AZ and recently ordered 6 Bosu balls to use in my classroom. I am trying to make my program a fitness based program…..we still spend time on the sports skills, but I find myself being more drawn to helping my students create a love for movement and lifetime movement (and I was a college athlete, basketball, go figure! 😉 ). Not every kid is going to try out for a sports team and make it and not every kid is going to be good at that sport, or even have an interest at all. I think equipping (is that even a word?!! lol ) my students with exercise skills that they can use on their own, any time, is going to help them when they get older and want to be active, and not on a sports team. I will continue to search google for ideas on how to incorporate the use a Bosu Balls into my program, but wanted to stop here on your site and say thanks for this post on how you were inspired by a new piece of equipment. I am inspired by it also and excited about the search I am on….. Have a great day.
Meredith says
Jennifer! I love, love, love your perspective and approach to fitness! As the mom of a non-athletic boy myself, I completely agree that creating a love for fitness and activity is the goal–not every kid will be a soccer star! I think that general fitness and wellness is far more of a life-long skill that kids can carry with them into adulthood, and use of the BOSU is perfect for this. Thank you for sharing this, and thank you for caring for kiddos in such a meaningful way through your work!
Meredith says
Jennifer, I was so impressed with your perspective, I shared it on my Facebook page! Don’t know if you are on, but wanted to share the link if so: https://www.facebook.com/themomoftheyear/posts/1813741462021103 Thank you so much for your comment!
Anne Metz says
Those are great! I used them in physical therapy for my back and it was great for my core!
Meredith says
You are always in the know with all these cool fitness gadgets/elements, Anne! Glad the BOSU works for you!