An exercise apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a pedestal, a seat supported by the pedestal, and at least two handle members mounted to opposing sides of the pedestal, to be gripped generally at their top end by a user oriented relative to the seat. The pedestal has a curved base for permitting rocking movement of the pedestal about a substantially intermediate axis, generally orthogonal to opposing sides on which the handle members are placed. The handle members preferably include bar-shaped structures hinged to the pedestal via respective ball joints.