Why Laura Loves the Stability Ball
It’s Workout Wednesday and you know that means? It’s time to get on the ball! Literally.
This past weekend, I did something I haven’t done in far too long. Since the cardio area was super crowded, I grabbed a stability ball and some free weights and got started on a total-body workout that kicked my endorphins into high gear. (The bonus: when I finished my stability ball workout, the traffic had died down a bit in the cardio area and I added 30 minutes of high-intensity elliptical training to round out my routine.)
What makes doing exercises on a stability ball so effective? The scientific explanation is that it creates a proprioceptively enriched environment for your workout. This type of environment challenges the internal balance and stabilization mechanisms of the body. When performing exercises on a stability ball, your body is forced to balance itself, which means you get the added benefit of working multiple muscles at once.
Think of it this way: If you lie on a bench to perform a chest press, you get good work for your pectoral muscles, but not much else. However, perform that same exercise on a stability ball and you have to draw in your navel and squeeze your glutes to remain stable and perform the exercise. Talk about a great way to get more from your exercise routine without spending countless more hours working out!
If you need one more reason to get on the ball, here it is: virtually every exercises performed on the ball works your core, which is responsible for stabilizing the rest of the body. Maintaining a strong core improves your performance in and out of the gym with daily activities ranging from walking up stairs to carrying groceries.
I leave you with some of my favorite stability ball exercises and would love to hear about yours. Remember, getting on the ball is a surefire way to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Ball Bridge Start Position
Finish
Ball Cobra Start
Ball Cobra Finish
- Ball Dumbbell Chest Press Start
Finish
Overhead Press Start
Finish
Triceps Extension
All photos by
Lauren Bachner
Posted on January 9, 2013, in Fitness, Health and tagged Ball Cobra, Ball Dumbbell Chest Press, Ball Dumbbell Tricep Extensions, Core Training, Laura DeAngelis, Lauren Bachner, Personal Fitness, Proprioception, Proprioceptively Enriched Environment, stability ball exercises, Stability Ball Shoulder Press, Workout Wednesday. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
lauralovesfitness 
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