How to Keep Your Balance on a Fitness Ball!

July 12th, 2010 | Posted in Fitness tips | No Comments »

The giant balls that have taken the fitness world by storm in recent years are funny looking contraptions, and many still don’t understand how these child-like balls help us to get fit. It’s actually quite simple…

The science behind the ball

You have to balance while working out with these balls, meaning you use many more muscles than you would if you were completing the same exercise from the floor. Simple as that!

Why use a fitness ball?

Abs are an important part of gaining a great body. They are ultimately what many people rate your fitness levels on, as a set of impressively molded abs are eye catching, and this means many people focus on getting the best abs when they work out.

Using a fitness ball to get smokin’ hot abs is ideal as you engage many more muscles in order to stay stabilised on the ball, and your body has twice the amount of working out to do. It is also heaps of fun and provides endless amusement between friends when one of you slides off — which inevitably happens every time!

What do I do with it?

This is a commonly asked question as many people buy their ball then have no idea what to actually do with it! First of all pump it up until it is so firm that you can bounce it then start with the following exercise:

• Lay on top of the ball on your lower back with your legs bent at the knee, keeping your thighs parallel to the floor with flat feet. Support your head with both hands and slowly crunch up as if you were doing a sit-up in the floor. Make sure your body sits at a 45 degree angle and hold it before slowly lowering back down again.

How do I stay off my butt?

Here is the tricky part! Knowing why we use a fitness ball and what exercises to do on it is one thing; not falling off is totally different! The trick is simply to practice as you will get used it. The circle of life applies to your exercise ball: the more you fall, the more you practice and the fitter you get!

Jennifer suggests you use the following for working out at home:

• A workout mat
• A pair of dumbbells
• A inclining/declining bench
• A Piece of cardio equipment

And yes, you guessed it — an exercise ball, also known as a _stability ball, too!