About us – Gymba story

Gymba Ltd is a Finnish family business with a mission to develop innovative, user-friendly solutions that support physical activity and fit naturally into modern, busy lifestyles.

Our vision is to revolutionize how people move in everyday life—effortlessly, naturally, and present in every moment. Because we believe movement shouldn’t be something extra; it should be a natural part of life.

Berättelsen bakom Gymba Aktiveringsbräde

It all began with the internationally awarded Gymba Activation Board, designed to bring healthy movement into standing work. At the end of the year 2011 the company founder Jarmo Pölönen was developing a curvy screen from glued wooden veneer. To test its strength he stepped on the convex side of the wooden screen and after bouncing on it for a while Jarmo got the idea that it could work as a sports equipment. At first on his mind were the elderly people and people who needed physical therapy. The first prototypes of the Gymba board were given to physiotherapy students and based on their encouraging feedback the product development continued.

In 2013 there were more and more research data and discussion in the media about the risks of sitting and the sale of height adjustable desks increased. The problem was that even though the popularity of standing desks increased they eventually ended up being unused because standing on a hard surface or static standing in general feels so uncomfortable. There had to be a better solution to get people to utilize the standing desks. And so the decision was made to focus on improving office ergonomics.

Thoughtfully Made. Built to last.

We believe great products shouldn’t cost the Earth. That’s why we use biocomposite – a sustainable, eco-friendly material that’s as kind to the planet as it is durable in everyday use. Our philosophy is simple: when something is made right, you should only need to buy it once—unless you're sharing the joy with someone else (which we love to see). And if any of our products ever reach the end of their life, no worries—they’re fully recyclable.
Thanks to the designer Heikki Koivurova the Gymba Activation Board got the design it has today. And then it was time to think what the board would be called as. There are many kind of boards on the market: balance boards, twist boards, motion boards, exercise boards etc. But all of those labels would narrow down the functions the Gymba board provides. The name Activation Board was born from a simple idea: this board was made to get people moving. It brings more activity into office life by encouraging people to stand more—and by turning standing from something passive into something dynamic. When you use the Gymba Activation Board, you activate your body, boost your alertness, and get more done. And our hope is that this added energy helps you focus on what truly matters—improving both your well-being and your quality of life.
The sales of the Gymba Activation Board started in Finland in 2015. It all started in Finland in 2015 with the Gymba Activation Board. Designed to bring movement into the workday, the board became a favorite in offices and home workspaces—earning international awards and finding its way to retailers on four continents.

Bringing Balance Beyond the Workspace

Today, our product family has grown. While our roots are in work ergonomics, Gymba now offers movement-supporting solutions for fitness and active living as well—like our newest product, the Gymba Balance Board Mini, designed for balance training, rehabilitation and everyday exercise and recovery.

Heidi Välimäki

CEO
Managing partner
heidi@gymba.fi

Sara Välilä

Sales and Marketing Specialist
sara@gymba.fi

Jarmo Pölönen

Founder
Product development
jarmo@gymba.fi