| Have you ever heard of a Pilates Yoga Exercise Ball? | | | | muscles in their abdomen and spine active. |
| This is commonly known as a fitness ball or a Swiss | | | | - Balls are great to use to drape yourself over |
| ball and ranges in size from 55cm-75cm. It is used in | | | | whether front or back. |
| all kinds of physical fitness regimens from yoga to | | | | - Play! |
| physical therapy, Pilates and other general forms of | | | | Pilates with exercise ball is always helpful but the |
| exercise. Though many think that the exercise balls | | | | important thing to keep in mind is to always stay |
| were created by Joseph Pilates, this is certainly not | | | | true to the intent of the exercise. Add some |
| true. They are not even considered traditional Pilates | | | | difficulty and variety to Pilates mat exercises by |
| equipment, but their value to any Pilates exercise | | | | experimenting with the exercise ball's instability. |
| program cannot be undermined. | | | | Here are a few tips on how to do the Pilates |
| The round nature of a ball makes it a little difficult to | | | | Exercises using the Fitness Ball: |
| balance when a person is trying to sit or lay on it | | | | Light |
| while exercising. Every time you challenge balance, | | | | -Perform Pelvic Curls while your legs are on the table |
| you have a greater possibility to put to the test your | | | | top propped on the ball. |
| core strength using the stabilizer muscles in your | | | | -Perform the Spine Stretch while your hands are on |
| body. With the ball. you will find that putting your hips | | | | the ball, letting it roll out with the exercise. |
| or legs on it while the rest of your body rests stable | | | | Medium |
| on the mat is quite difficult. | | | | -Perform Plank with the hips balanced on the ball. |
| However, there are many tips and tricks on how to | | | | -Do The Hundred with the legs propped out to the |
| use exercise balls and how to make exercising with | | | | ball. |
| them much more effective. Examples are the | | | | Difficult |
| following: | | | | -Do Roll Up holding the ball in between your hands. |
| - Engage the muscles of the core to keep balance. | | | | -Do Open Leg Rocker with the exercise ball in |
| - Increase the hardness of the exercise by putting | | | | between your ankles. |
| balance or leverage challenges. | | | | Pilates and any other forms of exercise are good for |
| - Instructors should use Balls to provide | | | | the health. They are also great stress relievers, so if |
| neuromuscular feedback to their students. | | | | you want a healthy body and a calm mind, do your |
| - Sit on exercise balls at their desk to keep the | | | | Pilates exercise daily. |