Exercise Ball Exercises | Exercise Ball Workouts

 Exercise Ball Exercises for the Abs

In the gym you can use many different pieces of equipment to work your abdominal muscles. The exercise ball is a great tool to work your ab muscles.

The Exercise Ball has become one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment in the fitness industry. It has many names. Some people refer to it as a Stability Ball, Swiss Ball, or Physioball.

There are 3 main reasons people perform abdominal exercises on an exercise ball.

When doing abdominal exercises on the ball…
#1 Your abs work harder.
#2 There is more Range of Motion.
#3 There are greater improvements in your balance, coordination, and stability.

In studies comparing floor crunches to ball crunches, researchers found that the abdominal muscles worked harder during crunches on the ball. Some of this is due to the increased range of motion through the spine when you perform crunches on an exercise ball.

When you are lying on the floor, your spine flattens out slightly and this decreases the range of motion of the exercise. However, when you perform abdominal crunches on a ball, your hips are extended and your back is slightly extended which leads to greater range of motion and increased muscle work.

Lastly, because the ball is less stable than the floor, your abdominal muscles must also work to keep you balanced.
There are additional benefits to exercising on a ball. Some people find that ab crunches on the exercise ball are more comfortable than other crunch positions, like the floor. And, some people think it’s more fun and mentally stimulating, which helps to combat exercise boredom and burn out.

  It may seem intimidating at first, but it is not that difficult to master. I generally begin by teaching my personal training clients the basics, such as the drawing-in maneuver, floor crunches, and the floor plank. But as soon as they master those ab exercises, I teach them abdominal exercises on the ball.

Some of my favorite abdominal exercises with a stability ball are regular crunches, alternating oblique crunches, stability ball roll-ins, and side crunches on the stability ball.

I truly think the exercise ball is one of the best pieces of ab exercise equipment. And if you had to buy one tool to effectively work your abdominal muscles I would recommend an exercise ball.

I think buying a ball is a better investment than buying an as seen on tv ab machines. Many of the as seen on TV products over promise and under deliver, and they are all one dimensional.

An exercise ball is a versatile and inexpensive piece of equipment, and it is a tool I use often with my personal training clients. If you have never used an exercise ball, there is no time like the present to learn something new!

Pictures of Abdominal Exercises
Here’s a directory of abdominal exercises with pictures and instructions.

Tips For Women Who Want Toned Abs

The crunch is of course the standard ab exercise. However, it can be hard on some parts of the body. You can always use an exercise ball or your couch to rest your legs on during the workout. This will take away some of the stress from …   Read more…

Denise Austin Hit The Spot Core Complete DVD: Tone the Entire Body

Stability balls, or Swiss balls, have been used for decades for physical therapy and rehabilitation. They are now a mainstream exercise tool, used to help work the core group of muscles. They are great to train the body for balance and … It is a well rounded leg routine, including all muscles of the upper leg. The exercises included for the core are creative and create a nice variety of work on the ball. The workout ends with a quick stretch for the absRead more…

4 Fitness-Ball Moves to Tone Hips, Buns & Thighs « Gaiam Blog

Lie face down on the ball with abs in contact with ball. Place your hands on the floor in a push-up position. Keep your legs hip-width apart with your toes lightly touching the ground. With abs contracted to support the lower back.

Excercise Ball to Work Your Abs

Working your abs with an exercise ball can be an exhilarating way to get a great workout! Exercise balls are fun and simple, but they add an edge to a workout. The most basic ab routines to do with an exercise ball are a basic crunch.

Technorati Tags: ab workout, Exercise Ball Chairs, free exercise ball workout, free exercise ball workouts, pregnancy exercise, stomach exercises using exercise balls

Using An Exercise Ball As Your Office Chair

If you spend long hours in the office, and if you work out constantly at your desk and before your computer, then you might find that your back aches more often than usual. This may be due to the varying wrong positions that you put your body through as you churn out your reports and articles. You might also find that you are gaining weight in the most unlikely, and certainly unsightly areas, including your hips, legs, and buttocks.

You can avoid all these inconveniences by making use of an exercise ball chair. By turning your ordinary exercise ball into office equipment, you can flex your muscles, strengthen your core, and even conduct a mini-workout as you go through the daily grind. With proper use, an exercise ball chair can help you lose weight without you having to go to the gym and enroll in exercise programs that demand exorbitant joining fees. Along with a balanced diet and a good amount of relaxation, your exercise ball chair can even help you increase your resistance.

Before getting an exercise ball chair, however, you need to buy one that correctly conforms to your body size and proportions. Your thighs should be sloping slightly downwards, and should not be at a perpendicular angle to the ball. The lower slope of your thighs eases the burden on your lower back, and keeps you from straining your spine unnecessarily. The exercise ball chair, however, should not be too tall, so that you end up looking like you are leaning on your desk to keep from diving forward.

If you start using the exercise ball chair, you might find it uncomfortable to sit in for long hours at a time. Start with about an hour or less, then sit on it for longer hours as the days go by. You can also exercise on it during downtime, say when your computer is saving an especially large file, or if you have to scan your hard drives for viruses or damage. With more practice, you can make your exercise ball chair your partner in fitness.

If you are interested in purchasing one, consult with your local gym trainers and fitness centers on the feasibility of actually sitting on one for long hours each day. You may also need to pay your orthopedist or chiropractor a visit, so that you can check if your back muscles and bones are ready for using such a ball. Your hours on the exercise ball should count toward making your body better, not turning your nerves into a frazzled mass.

By: Albert Lee

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Fit fitness into your day- Snap Fitness

Here’s another idea mentioned by more than one fitness expert: Replace your desk chair with a big exercise ball. “When I was a software developer, I brought one of those balance balls to my office and stopped using my normal chair after one day.

banannie » Exercise ball as chair, day one

A short time ago I came across this article, 10 Reasons to Use an Exercise Ball As Your Chair. I sit at my computer for hours each day, and I do see the effects of being so sedentary. I know one answer is to sit here for less hours.

Exercise Ball Chairs! | MAJ World Wide

Sitting on an exercise ball chair while at home or work promotes flexibility, coordination, motor skills, core strengthening, and balance. Your body, when. 

The Green Head - Posture Improving Exercise Ball Chair

This cool new chair is not only an innovative new take on supportive seating design, it actually may help improve posture and strengthen core muscles as well. 

Exercise Ball Chair to improve your posture

Exercise Ball Chair to improve your posture - Most of us are always looking to exercise, but can’t seem to get off the couch. An Exercise Ball Chair sounds perfect for those of us, doesn’t it? 

Technorati Tags: balance ball chair, balanceball chairs, exercise ball chair, Exercise Ball Chairs, seat