Pilates Ball

Pilates balls are most commonly used props for Pilates exercises. The balls are big in size, about fifty five centimeters to seventy five centimeters in diameter. The Pilates balls are certainly not the traditional equipment of Pilates. However these fitness balls have increasing popularity among the user of Pilates. The Pilates balls are also known as instability ball, fitness balls or off-balance balls. The balls involve all the core muscles in fitness program. The balls have a tippy nature, which poses challenge to the exercisers to maintain proper balance while doing exercises by sitting or lying on the balls. This gives the best opportunity to test the core strength of the stabilizer muscles. One will find it difficult to have just legs or hips on the ball while rest of the body on the floor or on the mat.

Importance of Pilates Balls

The Pilates Balls increase the difficulty level of the exercise by posing challenges on maintaining balance. It engages subtle muscles to maintain balance. The Pilates balls provide neuromuscular feedback to the users. In many therapeutic settings also these pilates balls are used to provide support and some movement. Some people use this pilates balls to sit on their desk so that their abdominal muscles spine remain active. For light resistance exercise squeeze the ball before use. For stretching exercises pilates balls are best to use to drape oneself over the front and back. There are numerous ways to incorporate fitness balls into Pilates workout. Some of the ways which help in the incorporation of the fitness balls is by bringing stability of the ball, or using the ball’s shape and weight as the challenge to the leverage system. As for example the ball can be used by the exerciser with the legs propped up on the ball for balance or holding the ball between the ankles, which is leverage exercises.

Exercise with Pilates balls

For light exercises Pelvic Curl is best with the legs in table top supported on the ball. Another easy exercise is spine stretch with the hands on the ball, allowing the ball to roll out with the exercise. For moderate exercises do plank with the hips balanced on the Pilate ball. Count the hundreds with the legs supported on the ball. For more difficult exercise roll up with the fitness ball in the hands. Another exercise is to do open leg rocker with holding the ball between the ankles. Pilates balls are not expensive, very useful, and it provides fun to use in exercise. It is very important to get a ball that is right for the size of the exerciser. For someone whose height is in between 4'11" to 5'4" is 55 cm, for the height 5'5" to 5'11" is 65 cm and 6' to 6'7" is 75 cm. Fitness balls are sold anywhere where exercise equipment is sold, from the fitness stores, gyms and studios and big discount stores. The pump should be checked before buying a ball. Sometimes the balls might need to keep in air out position. The Pilates balls must be bought with the workout video.