Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Fitness Ball and Incorporation Into a Pilates Routine

By Julia Channel

Looking for quick results? Using a fitness ball combined with Pilates will achieve just that " and you will have fun as well!

Balancing on the fitness ball helps you work your stabilising muscles, creating a very high quality workout.

The fitness ball was originally called the Pezzi Ball, then the Swiss ball. It has a diameter of around 35 to 85 cm. It is made from an elastic form of PVC, which is strong enough to withstand the pressure it is placed under.

Swiss balls were designed primarily for use with newborns and infants, then afterwards as a tool for physiotherapy, although it quickly developed a following in the fitness industry. Whilst they were never originally a part of the Pilates concept, these fitness balls have been enthusiastically adopted by the Pilates fraternity when people realised their actual potential and are now considered as an essential element in any Pilates programme.

The balancing that is required when using the fitness ball in Pilates is a great way to achieve the thin and trim body that you desire. Since you need to work to maintain your stability, a fitness ball makes your Pilates workout a lot more effective with only a tiny bit more work.

Exactly what does a fitness ball add to your workout? A fitness ball strengthens the small muscles around your spine. They are known as micro stabilisers. This toning strengthens the musculature and helps prevent back injury and pain. When you strengthen the muscles around your spine, it gives you more body strength in general. When you achieve that, you can do more challenging workouts without getting tired.

The fitness ball also works on the other core body muscles " the abdominal muscles " in much the same way as for the back muscles " toning and strengthening over time.

Using a fitness ball allows you to reduce how many humdrum repetitive exercises you do by spicing up your work out. Forget that hard floor and say hello to some extra bounce!

Would you like more? You can add weights to the mix: just take care that you choose a much lower weight than for a usual routine, because the combination of stabilising and weights intensifies the workout. You will feel your overall strength increasing rapidly. With this method, you will feel your confidence explode as the weight you can lift grows.

The most important thing to keep in mind when using a fitness ball for Pilates, is to maintain excellent form. Keep in mind that the use of the ball intensifies an average workout. High reps are not always necessary. Sometimes form is more important. A low number of reps done perfectly can be very effective. The stabilizer muscles will get stronger and you will find that you are well beyond your regular fitness levels in no time at all!

For more information on the benefits of using a fitness ball in your workout program, be sure to visit the website. - 15438

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