The Exercise Ball
Every day, 24/7, new types of ab burning equipment come and go. You’ve seen the hundreds of different ab machine infomercials that promise you mean and lean abs in 60-90 days. The manufacturers of these machines are so kind that they’ll send the machine right to your door.
Despite the plethora of new ab machines that appear then disappear there is one piece of equipment that stands the test of time. And that’s the Exercise Ball, sometimes known as the Swiss Ball or Stability Ball.
The Exercise ball is great for building up strength in the torso and allows a much greater variety of safe exercises which result in far less injuries. It’s the perfect tool if you want to begin workouts on your abs and back.
The Exercise ball is one of my favorite pieces of equipment because it’s perfect for the home. It can be easily stored and it isn’t a problem moving it around the house unlike some heavy equipment.
How to Choose An Exercise Ball
The most important thing you want to look out for is that there are 3 main categories of Exercise Ball sorted according to height. The right Exercise Ball for you will be determined by how tall you are. Below are the standard ball sizes matched with the recommended height.
55cm Ball – 4’11” – 5’4”
65 cm Ball – 5’5” – 5’11”
75 cm Ball – 6’0” – 6’ 7”
I have a 65 cm ball and when I first brought it home I pumped it up until it was completely full.
"Can Be Used For Sitting"
This made it impossible to even sit on or balance on so I recommend not pumping the ball until it’s about to burst. Leave enough room that a depression can be made in the ball.
Using Your Exercise Ball
The Exercise Ball is an extremely versatile tool and can be used for weight training, Yoga, Pilates as well as most ab exercises.
I’ve even gone as far as substituting my Exercise Ball for my normal desk chair. Although there isn’t scientific proof to back this up, it is argued that the stability ball is much better for your posture and your back than a normal chair. I tend to agree with this. I’ve had notoriously bad posture, I used to arch my shoulders forward and slouch whenever I’m sitting. Now that I sit on the ball, I am forced to keep my lower back straight and my shoulders back to ensure I maintain balance when sitting.
Exercise Balls are a very good long-term investment and if you are serious about getting into shape then they are a must. You can pick them up for very reasonable prices over at Amazon.com
Make sure to try some of the Stability Ball exercises shown on this site.