Getting started on the Indo Board Balance Trainer is not as hard as it might seem. There is a learning curve involved and caution must be taken before beginning your balance training exercises. If you are a beginner to balance training you should always use a spotter. Begin by placing deck on floor with no roller underneath the deck. Always use the correct stance in which your feet are be equal distances from front and back of deck and equal distances from either ends of the deck. Your feet should be shoulder width apart and pointed straight ahead. Proper posture is important: bend knees, avoid bending at the waist. Try to keep a stacked stance with shoulders, hips and ankles in alignment, over each other. Always look ahead and not down. Looking down shifts your weight forward and off center. After you have your stance and posture correct you can use your spotter to help get you up on the Indo Board deck with the roller underneath it. 


The type of surface that the roller is placed on is very important. Extreme caution is urged if you use hardwood floors, tile or concrete surface as the roller will move very fast and be hard to control. The best places to start are in grass, on a thick carpeted surface or on a gym mat or yoga mat. Once the rider becomes more advanced they can begin to experiment with different surfaces that can speed up the roller.

Always remember the basic premise of using the Indo Board is to see how long you can keep the deck from touching the ground no matter what you are doing while using it. Progressions for getting started on the Indo Original are: first try to and hold the deck as steady as possible with very little movement back and forth. From there it is important to master the transition from getting the deck moving one way to stopping it and getting it moving the opposite way. In order to master this transition you must use proactive movements as opposed to reactive movements. Other progressions would be to perform simple movements such as a half squat or a full squat.

The usual Learning curve to get the vasics on the Indo Board is approximately 3-5 minutes.

The mind wants the body to be comfortable. This causes you to seek an uncentered posture.

  Being centered on the Indo Board requires some physical effort which is not comfortable to the mind. This will cause you to favor what we call the "Weak Side". The "Strong Side" is the goal! So remember not to give in to the "Weak Side" and your progress on the Indo Board will proceed well.  

  A centered posture on the Indo Board is all about a relaxed upper body, holding the head and shoulders upright with hips rolled slightly forward and knees bent beyond the 3-2 inch "comfort zone"! Breaking at the waist and not bending your knees enough is a result of your mind wanting you to be comfortable. Maintaining a good centered posture on the Indo Board is at first uncomfortable for some people and they give into the demands of the mind and assume an unbalanced stance.   When you think your knees are bent, then go 2 inches lower. Your mind tells you your knees are bent and usually stops you short of where the power position begins. The extra 2 inches actually can feel like 5, but the mind likes to play tricks on you. Understand that this bent knee posture is meant to be the TOP of your range of motion. You never want to operate the Indo Board from a higher position.  

LOWER is the key... all the way down to a 90° healthy squat position is the range of motion that commences core training!

 

The Demo DVD describes and clearly demonstrates these principles.

Getting Started: Overview

Indo Boards are designed to appeal to everyone, ages 4 to whatever.

The design of Indo Boards provide a large surface area to help add stabiltiy to an unstable device. The "Indo" rider uses their sense of balance to maneuver the board and roller in a controlled manner.

  • Beginners benefit from the wide board design, which imparts confidence for those eager first attempts and allows for a fast and fun learning curve.
  • Proficient riders enjoy the large surface area providing plenty of room to move and walk on.
  • The limits of what can be done on the Indo Board are far from being reached. Use your imagination and come up with your own tricks and maneuvers.


How to start INDOing

The best way to get the balance board off of the floor and balanced on the roller is to have a partner spot you, or place the board close to a wall or railing that you can hold onto. If you are a beginner, DO NOT TRY THIS BY YOURSELF!

A partner can help by standing in front of you and holding your hands or torso for support. Also, holding onto a waterski rope and handle that is attached securely above the board provides maximum self-help in avoiding spills.

The board, when it is balanced, is referred to as "IN TRIM". As you progress in your ability, you will find that being in trim can be accomplished in many different positions.

Click here to read more about balance and being centered.

Keeping the board from touching the ground is the goal and challenge.

Safety Precautions

The Indo Board is best used on a carpeted surface. The thicker the carpet pile the slower the action will be. As you become more proficient in using the Indo Board, bare floors can provide the ultimate challenge to your abilities. However, the action is greatly speeded up and falls are quite unforgiving depending on the surface.

People riding the Indo Board for the first time should never do it without some way to steady themselves!

  • Practice up close to a wall or holding someone's hands. Always bend your knees and don't lean on the steady support.
  • It is highly recommended that safety gear be worn to help soften the inevitable falls. Wrist guards are the best protection, along with a helmet, knee and elbow pads.
  • Most surfers prefer to go barefoot, because that's how they surf. Skateboarders usually wear shoes and wakeboarders ride either way! It's up to the rider to determine if shoes are right for them.
  • Make sure the area where you are riding is clear of objects that you might fall on.
  • Keep spectators at a reasonable distance away from the rider and the potential path of a flying Indo Board. The board can become a missile and cause injury if it hits someone.
  • Alcohol slows the reaction time and is not to be mixed with Indo Board riding.
  • Indo Boards have a hollow roller and if the action is too fast, you can cut a hole in one of the sides where the Indo Board sticker is and add sand (approx. 2-3 cups) to help slow the action for beginners or in the absence of carpet.

Take these few simple precautions and feel the INDO obsession begin!