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Get On The Ball: The Benefits of Stability Ball Training
by: Douglas Brooks

You might be thinking, "Come on! Exercise on a ball? Let's get serious!" And, that's the point. Stability ball training is "serious." It works and it's fun. Not only does stability ball training challenge your body in a new way, but it's pretty hard not to smile when you're working out. After all, you are working out on a ball!

I have to admit, when introduced to the stability ball years ago, I was fairly skeptical too. After all, fitness consumers and professionals alike are constantly bombarded with new equipment and programming, some of which works and is safe, and some of which does not work and is not safe. Guaranteed, stability balls are here to stay and have probably been around longer than you think.

Where Did They Come From?
Stability ball training has its roots in rehabilitation. Physical therapists and orthopedic specialists world-wide have used this concept of training on an unstable surface since the early 1900s. Balls were used with patients who had neurological or orthopedic disorders. Today, medical doctors, osteopathic specialists, chiropractors, physical therapists and many other fitness professionals use the ball not only to treat and rehab physical injuries, but now mainstream practitioners and the public alike are getting on the ball and using it to prevent more serious physical problems before they occur.

So, What Are They?

Just in case you're wondering, stability balls are large, heavy-duty, inflatable balls that are used as a piece of exercise equipment. Not only are they bomb-proof, they're generally rated to hold up to 600 or 700 pounds, but the ball is also comfortable and supportive because it conforms to your unique anatomy since it is air-filled, and using the ball makes it easy to get into and out of different exercise positions because it gets you off of the floor. The ball is especially well-suited to improving ab and lower-back strength, as well as to bettering functional strength,

Benefits of Stability Ball Training
Maintaining proper alignment on the ball stimulates the body's natural motor reflexes and encourages the body to react as a whole, integrated unit. In other words, this type of movement compares to how you move about in a normal day and training on the ball challenges the whole body to participate in order to maintain correct posture and balance, and to perform dynamic exercise movement. When using the ball correctly, the body is required to utilize various muscles for stabilization. These muscles may not have been previously challenged using traditional exercise equipment. Because the ball is versatile and dynamic the training outcome is pre-directed toward maximal results.

Abs and more!

As you work out on the ball you will find that it is especially effective in targeting your abdominal and lower back muscles. Even while training other muscle groups, the ab and back musculature is simultaneously working to balance and stabilize the body. Strong postural muscles and proper posture are important for relieving and preventing low-back pain.

The ball can improve muscle strength and endurance in all of the major muscle groups. Training with the ball can improve muscle tone, increase muscle endurance and strength, restore or improve flexibility, enhance spinal stability, complement your resistance and aerobic training programs, help you lose weight, and lastly, improve your balance, posture and coordination.

The ball is ideal for stretching and offers additional options to traditional static stretching. Traditional stretching usually requires you to stretch on the floor and it can be difficult to move into and out of stretching positions.

Versatility

1. The ball can be used at home or in both group exercise and personal training settings.
2. It can be adapted to all ages, all fitness levels and special populations.
3. The ball is portable and light weight.
4. It is easy to travel with and easy to store.
5. The ball is an inexpensive exercise tool.
6. The ball is maintenance free over a long life.

The ball encourages "play." It brings a freshness and newness to any exercise program.

The brilliance and simplicity of the stability ball is rolled into one word--balance! Because the ball demands balance, you'll work muscles you never knew you had or challenge them in a different way. The challenge of maintaining perfect posture, on a round and mobile surface--is exhilarating, fun and incredibly effective in building functional strength, and challenging your ab and back muscles like never before! If You've ever considered exercise punishment, it's time to have a ball!

>>Click here to start shopping for a stability ball now!