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You Got Balls? Exercise Balls That Is!
One of the best ways to maintain your health and increase muscle toning is therefore to work with stabilization balls. These large balls can be used to help you perform a variety of exercises. Most of these fitness workouts focus on building muscles, increasing toning, and improving your core strength.
Buying an exercise ball is a great investment. These can be used not only for performing exercise routines. But also as a chair for when you are at your desk. As sitting for long periods of time can be extremely hurtful to your back, using a ball can help. Sitting on an exercise ball is unlike sitting on a chair. On the ball you will be forced to utilize your abdominal muscles for balance.
Using Your Stabilizing Muscles
Using these along with smaller stabilizing muscles helps to keep your stomach engaged thereby decreasing the strain on your lower back. Most importantly, the ball keeps you moving slightly from side to side or up and down. Doing this prevents you from getting all cramped up and stiff.
When it comes to exercise though, the ball is also terrific. A great one to try is balancing on the ball with your hands while doing the plank. The plank is a great core exercise. By way of engaging your abs you will be working your whole body from head to toe. Using the ball adds a challenge to this well known Pilates and Yoga move.
You can also try using the ball while doing traditional sit-ups. Gently lower yourself onto the ball with your back resting against it. Position your legs as you normally would in the sit-up position, bent at the knee although at this point your body will be more horizontal. Your chest should be almost parallel to the knees. Begin your regular sit-up routine or switch it up with side sit-ups. You can use the ball to target your obliques by doing these sit-ups with the aid of the ball. This is great for burning fat around the stomach area.
Other Exercise Ball Uses
Finally, you may also want to use the ball to increase the intensity of push-ups. Rest your lower legs and shins on the ball with your head facing down in the push up position. Arms should be vertical and perpendicular to the floor. Begin your regular push-up routine. Trying to balance yourself on the ball while pushing up and down will certainly help you to engage your core while you work those triceps and biceps.
If you don’t have a ball of your own most gyms now have them available for use. When in doubt as one of the trainers at the gym to show you a few moves or inspect what those around you are up to. The ball can be used in so many ways and there are very few exercises that can’t be made to be more intense through the use of the ball. Just remember that if you are a novice, you’ll want to get the hang of it first before you start trying to balance your whole weight standing straight up on it. Get comfortable first before you try any real acrobatics.
Core Strength and Weight Loss
Many people yearn after a flat stomach or a six pack because they want to look good. But have you ever really thought of what a strong core does for you? Not only do you look great in that swimsuit, but abdominal muscles are really the core of all of your body movements.
Your core is what holds all the better looking parts together. Your biceps, the abs, the chest, your arms, and body movements from other parts all stem from the core.
Core training is the base note of all workouts, yet many people aren’t sure how to extend their routine in order to develop it. Exercises designed for building balance and strength. Ones that can be done while using an exercise ball are generally great for core workouts. Free weights are excellent because they let you move in a broader scope without limiting movement.
Why Core Strength is Important
The reason interior strength is so important is that just about every motion made by the human body is initiated in the core. Lunges, running, swimming, jumping, and weights all start with the abdominals, hips, and lower back. Yoga practitioners, as well as dancers and athletes, have long known the benefits of a strong core.
By strengthening your core muscles you will reduce your risk of injury. Also, have better posture, feel more comfortable sitting, increase your balance, increase energy levels, and give you better athletic ability when participating in sports or other activities. In order to strengthen your core you should focus on your stomach, back, and hips. Crunches, lunges, and forward bends are all great strengthening exercises. Doing exercises on an exercise ball will increase the intensity, as these balls make you keep your balance and focus on core movements.
Get Lean and Strong
Core strength training should be a part of your everyday work out. You should work towards 30 minutes of cardio followed by core exercises such as sit ups, lunges, and reverse twists. Classes such as yoga, pilates, and boot camp will also incorporate many effective core strengthening exercises. Just as with other exercises, once your core becomes stronger and more toned, you will naturally lose more weight in that area. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!
