Pilates Balls

What Are Pilates Balls?

Pilates balls, also called stability balls or balance balls, are not unique to Pilates practices. Yoga, martial arts ,and other forms of personal training also use Pilates balls or stability balls for balance training, core training, and ab strengthening. Pilates and Yoga have embraced the use of a stability ball and many Yoga and Pilates studios now offer Pilates and Yoga ball classes where the workouts are made up of exercises designed specifically to utilize the stability ball. Traditional Pilates abdominal exercises are twice as effective when done on a stability ball instead of standing up or on a mat, for that reason Yoga and Pilates practictioners have embraced the Pilates exercise ball and made it a normal part of a Pilates routine. Looking for a Pilates fitness ball class? Check the local Bally Fitness gym, they offer many different Pilates fitness ball classes. Many Yoga centers and Pilates studios also offer classes that use a balance ball and other Pilates equipment to help students get the most from their Pilates practices. Studios that offer specialized classes usually include the cost of the equipment in the class, so that people don’t need to purchase their own Pilates ball or other equipment in order to participate in the class. Students who find that using equipment is too much for them, or too strenuous for them, can do the exercises in the class with the equipment and still get a good Pilates workout.

Using A Pilates Ball At Home

Looking for Pilates ball exercises to do at home? Any traditional Pilates exercises can be done with a stability ball or a balance ball. There are many fitness websites that offer free, illustrated, printable Pilates ball exercises that even beginners can do. An Internet search will bring up lots of great Pilates ball exercises as well as places to purchase Pilates balls, like the Bigens Pilates ball or the Winsor Pilates ball. Looking for a mini Pilates ball? It’s easy to find a Leslee Bender Pilates mini-ball online. There are also balance balls that come with straps for people who don’t have great balance or are afraid that exercising on a plastic round ball will be too unstable for them. It’s definitely something that people have to get used to, but using a Pilates ball can be a great way to get ripped abs faster than doing traditional crunches and sit ups.