Get On The Pilates Exercise Ball

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One of the most fun pieces of Pilates equipment is the Pilates Exercise Ball. In occupational therapy training, we called them ‘stability balls’, but the Pilates exercise ball goes by many other names as well – the Swiss ball, the Gym ball, the Exercise ball just to name a few. The purpose of the Pilates exercise ball is to help improve stability and balance.

Nearly any exercise that can be done on the mat can be adapted for working out with a stability ball, with added benefits. When you work out on the uneven, yielding surface of an exercise ball, your body must constantly make minute adjustments in posture and position in order to maintain your balance. The extra effort not only helps reeducate your body about balance, it also has your deepest core muscles working overtime. No matter what exercises you’re doing on the ball, you will be working your abs. It’s the only way to keep from falling (or rolling) off.

Among the benefits you can expect from a workout on the Pilates exercise ball are:

• a reinforced sense of balance

• strengthen the stabilizing muscles around the spine for better posture, which leads to better breathing and more body awareness

• strengthen abdominal muscles

• reinforce postural alignment

• increase motor control, particularly gross motor control

• enhance neuromuscular coordination

• support and stretch the body

One of the greatest benefits of a workout on the Pilates exercise ball is more subtle, though. Plainly put, it’s just plain fun. And when your workout is fun, you’re more likely to work out more often.

Adding a Pilates exercise ball to your home gym equipment is a great investment in both fun and fitness. It’s the ideal introduction to Pilates for younger family members – even infants and toddlers can get a great deal of benefit from the use of a stability ball with proper adult supervision. Even something as simple as sitting and gently bouncing on an exercise ball while watching television offers benefits to posture, balance and torso strength. The Pilates exercise ball is easily one of the most popular and easy to incorporate pieces of equipment. Inexpensive, it offers enormous benefits as part of a daily Pilates exercise program. If you only choose one piece of Pilates exercise equipment, this should be it. Add a Pilates exercise ball to your daily workout and you’ll find yourself having a ball every time you exercise. For more ideas on Pilates check out www.PilatesWorkoutIdeas.com.