Look around any gym and you’ll see them bouncing around, and it seems like everyone wants to go. Look, exercise ball exercises sound like fun. Too routine, often focused on “no pain no gain” and moving us to tears in the process, but the fun isn’t just a bonus.
Your workout routine only gets good if you actually use it, and you’re more likely to do so if you’re enjoying yourself. Mental stimulation and variety can be a big part of a successful workout program and exercise ball exercises seem to be able to provide that.
But do exercise ball exercises really deliver or is it a bundle of fun that is just a distraction from the serious business of getting results. Let’s consider some advantages and disadvantages of their use.
pros
Exercise balls give you the ability to add a new twist to old exercises and even try some brand new ones.
novelty factor
The ball can turn a monotonous exercise into something new to re-engage your brain while working your body from new angles. Variety can help you stick to a routine instead of giving up.
they are low cost
There is a lot of expensive exercise equipment that you can blow a lot of money on. An exercise ball is not one of them.
You can focus on stability and core strength
It is not called the stability ball for nothing. To balance yourself you must constantly adapt and adjust to maintain a balanced platform from which to perform the exercise. It stimulates the brain and body by placing a new challenge on your stabilizer muscles.
The promise is better coordination and core strength—that is, better functionality, better posture and a stronger flatter stomach.
cons of exercise ball
need for supervision
You will probably need supervision or at least instruction in order to learn and perform the exercises correctly and safely. That’s probably going to cost you money. Is it worth it?
hazard
Lose your balance and you may crash!
loss of focus
Struggling to keep your balance may detract from the actual exercise you’re getting, meaning you get less of it. One of the principles of body design is knowing where to focus your energy, if all your attention isn’t on falling, then what about the muscles the exercise is targeting?
space
Big bouncy balls are fun, but they take up more than their fair share of room. While at home you have to find a place to keep it, at the gym you may find yourself struggling for space to work out.
You Don’t Need a Ball to Work Your Core
Seriously the key to a lean flat stomach isn’t working out for long hours. It’s the right eating plan and a little bit of the right kind of exercise. CORE is a buzzword and it sells a lot of PT sessions, but you can get more out of less work.
So exercise balls have advantages and disadvantages. should you use it? You decide. The most important thing is to stay safe and find a form of exercise that you enjoy that is also effective and efficient. When you do you will have a ball whether you are using one or not.
Source by Michael Mukoyogo
