A recent trend in exercise is to take traditional movements, such as the push-up, squat, and lunge, and perform them on an unstable medium, which increases the difficulty and enhances proprioception – also known as kinesthesia. Kinesthesia, notes WebMD, “is your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location. Without proprioception, you wouldn’t be able to move without thinking about your next step.”

The BOSU (both sides up) ball, which has been used in a rehabilitative setting, offers the exerciser opportunities to develop better balance via instability training.