question

[panda]

I have a balance ball in storage. It's in storage because I don't really have room for it when it's inflated. But if I were to actually use it on a regular basis, I would deal with finding room.

So! Tell me cool things you can do with a balance ball. Do you have any favorite websites with balance ball exercise resources? Is it worth dragging out my balance ball and making space?

Comments

[cereta]

1. Use them for push-ups (either resting your legs on them if you are a beginner or resting your arms on them if you are hard-core ;).

2. Sit on it while doing upper-body work with free-weights. Good for balance and abs.

3. Sit on it and do crunches.

4. Put it between the back and your wall for squats.

[panda]

thanks for the suggestions!

[rydra_wong]

What she said. Also:

*Try using it instead of a desk chair when you're at the computer. Some people really like that and find it's easier on their back than a regular chair.

*Use it instead of a weights bench, for anything like bench presses.

*Lie over it with it under your hips, wedge your feet under something sturdy, and do back hyperextensions.

*Put your hands on it, or your feet on it, while you do planks or push-ups. More instability = more work for your stabilizing muscles and core.

*Try laurashapiro's terrifying "dead bug" abs exercise.

[panda]

I used to use the ball for a desk chair, but now I do the standing at my computer thing.

thanks for the suggestions!

[weirdquark]

I use it mainly for crunches and as a replacement for an incline bench. (I sit on something long and flat and lean back on it for incline bench press and lean forward on it for YTWLs.) I also use it to raise my feet when doing horizontal pullups -- the only piece of furniture I have that's sturdy enough to hold my weight to get under is a bunk bed, so I hang on to the top bunk and put the stability ball on the bottom with my feet on it.

[panda]

thanks for the suggestions!

[lyorn]

The "prone jackknifes" on the balance ball are my favourite ab exercises. Dive onto the ball until your knees are on the ball, your hands flat on the floor, then draw your knees up to your chest.

Also, you can do planks on them and roll around the ball with your elbows while doing it.

Yes, I fell off the ball quite a few times. *G*

It's important that the balance ball is the right size, though.

[panda]

I think planks on the ball are a little beyond me, but the jackknifes are something I can do. thanks!

[fearthainn]

What *can't* you do with a balance ball? :)

Hold the ball and do jackknife situps, where you lie flat, ball in hands, and raise the ball and your legs toward each other.

Hamstring curls - lie on your back with your legs on the ball, lift your butt off the ground, use your legs to pull the ball toward you. (I hate these with a fiery passion, but they are better than doing the same exercise on the TRX.)

The name of this one escapes me - same position as above, but you are just raising your hips off the ground and back down again. Hip presses?

Use it as a bench while you do flies or chest press with dumb bells. (Lie with your shoulders/back on the ball and your body in a bridge position, and do the exercises as if the ball were a bench.)

Kneel on it while trying to keep your balance. (I once had a trainer who would *stand* on the ball, but that seems like a quick way to a broken neck to me.)

Brace it between your back and the wall and then do split squats. (Or regular squats, like cetera said.) Alternatively, rest your back foot on the ball and do split squats.

Use it as a chair to do sit-down squats, or one-legged squats.

[panda]

okay I understand why you hate the hamstring curl things. jesus, ow. I felt that. XD


thank you for the suggestions!