A new approach to fitness which is currently sweeping through the gyms and health clubs is the Gym ball, otherwise known as Swiss balls, exercise balls and body balls.
WHAT IS A GYM BALL?
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Gym balls are manufactured in anti-burst materials and can take a maximum ... Read review
Advantages: Fun but Effective! Disadvantages: None
A new approach to fitness which is currently sweeping through the gyms and health clubs is the Gym ball, otherwise known as Swiss balls, exercise balls and body balls.
WHAT IS A GYM BALL?
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Gym balls are manufactured in anti-burst materials and can take a maximum weight of 400 kilograms or 880 lbs.
The balls are available in four basic sizes and should be purchased according to ... ...5'3" and under; a 65 cm size suitable for people from 5'4" to 5'10"; a 75 cm size for people from 5'11" to 6'4" in height; and a 85 cm size for people of 6'5" and over. I am 5' 9" and use the 65 cm size with no problems at all.
Most gym balls come ready supplied with a pump for inflating, but otherwise you would have to buy your own. Even with the purpose built pump they are hard work to pump up for ... more
A new approach to fitness which is currently sweeping through the gyms and health clubs is the Gym ball, otherwise known as Swiss balls, exercise balls and body balls.
WHAT IS A GYM BALL? ************************* Gym balls are manufactured in anti-burst materials and can take a maximum weight of 400 kilograms or 880 lbs.
The balls are available in four basic sizes and should be purchased according to your body height. Ball size 53 cm for people of 5'3" and under; a 65 cm size suitable for people from 5'4" to 5'10"; a 75 cm size for people from 5'11" to 6'4" in height; and a 85 cm size for people of 6'5" and over. I am 5' 9" and use the 65 cm size with no problems at all.
Most gym balls come ready supplied with a pump for inflating, but otherwise you would have to buy your own. Even with the purpose built pump they are hard work to pump up for the first time and this can take quite a while. Fortunately once they are inflated all you have to do is top up the air once in a while.
The ball should be inflated to the point where it becomes firm but still has some 'give' to it. This is necesary to allow the ball to contour to your body's shape.
COST ******* The average cost of a gym ball is about £10 - £15. I was lucky and got mine in the sale from Superdrug for £3 including pump. If you are willing to shop around I think you could pick one up quite cheaply.
WHAT DO THEY DO? ************************ The gym ball allows you to perform a whole range of toning, strenthening and postural exercises without imposing unnecessary stress upon the body. They are said to be particularly effective in improving core stability, posture, balance and co-ordination.
Most Gym balls come complete with an instruction leaflet illustrating a variety of exercises. In addition, there are plenty of dvd's books and websites dedicated to getting the most out of your Gym ball.
Many of the exercises require more strength, balance and co-ordination than it may first appear.
The ball is ideal for flexibility and stretching exercises, such as back stretches and side stretches, as it offers very good support.
Strenthening exercises including stomach crunches, press-ups and bridge exercises are incredibly effective. I have read that due to the core stability required in performing stomach crunches on a gym ball, crunches are actually 40% more effective than when carried out in the conventional way.
You can also use the Gym ball in a range of aerobic and balancing exercises.
In fact, even just sittlng on a Gym ball (while watching television, for example) is providing you with an abdominal workout, as the core muscles have to work to simply keep you upright on the ball.
VERDICT *********** I find the Gym ball to be a fun and interesting way to exercise. In comparison with a lot of exercise equipment it is very cheap and easy to use. I can't think of any other single piece of exercise equipment that provides such an all-round workout ranging from flexibility to strength training.
Its also quite a fun item to have around the house, my children use mine to bounce on or just to sit on!
The gymnastic ball is a great way of exercising at home.
When you first buy a ball it will come deflated usually in a box depending where you purchase it. Included in the box will be a pump so that you can inflate the ball.
They are made of a thick smooth vinyl and come in a variety of colours and are strong enough to hold a weight up to 850 lbs.
I know many people who use their ball as a seat either at their desk or just to sit and watch TV on.
... ...depending on your size and height you need to make sure you purchase the right size for you.
SIZING
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4'4" to 5'3" 53cm
4'11" to 6'0" 65cm
5'8" to 6'7" 75cm
6'3" and over 85cm
THE BALL
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I first came across this ball a number of years ago when doing Pilates. The main point of using a ball is to improve your core stability and strengthen your back muscles. The core stability muscles are the muscles that make up the abdominal ...
mrsatchmo 25.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gymnastik Ball
Advantages: Versatile and fun Disadvantages: Frequently fall off it when you're a newbie
These squishy rubber balls, that look disturbingly similar to Space Hoppers (but without the ears and manic grin), can help make your muscles stronger, especially your tummy, bum and thighs, improve your balance, make you more flexible and can help you in your quest to a flat stomach. They’re also tremendous fun to use. Also known as Swiss balls, physiotherapy balls or fitness balls, they range in price from £10-£40 and come in different sizes to ... ...a pump. Sometimes they have to be bought separately but I managed to get mine included in the pack (Bourne Fitness Ball bought from TK Maxx). Once you’ve pumped the thing up – a workout in itself – you’re ready to go. Mine came with an exercise chart but if your doesn’t, you can find charts, books, videos and DVDs on the Internet or the health and fitness section of a book or video shop. The basic idea is that you do exercises such as stomach crunches ...
combatbadger 21.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gymnastik Ball
Advantages: Not just good for your spine, but fun too! Disadvantages: Doesn't fit through my doors when fully inflated, so can't move it from room to room.
I'm writing this bouncing up and down on a gym ball (not advisable if you're also drinking tea...). I've had a gym ball for about a year at least now, and it's great. I use it to sit at my home computer. It's meant to be great for your spine, because you have to constantly adjust your posture rather than slumping. It's also great fun to bounce up and down on!
You can get some that have a frame and a built-in back rest, although these aren't quite ... ...bit uncomfortable if you sit on it all day, as you do need something to slump against sometimes, so i recommend (and the manufacturers do i think) that you switch to a normal chair for short time periods if you feel like this (i no longer do really).
For me, as a coccydynia sufferer (painful coccyx, which means it hurts when i sit down cos i'm putting pressure on my coccyx), it's a godsend. It's the most comfortable seat ever for me, and i've tried ...
Zedex 24.09.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Gymnastik Ball
Advantages: Great workout Disadvantages: ????Not found any????
Overall View:
This ball is great. I originally got it to work out and get fit, but I have also found that it helps to stop my back aching, as I often get back ache, and it is also very comfortable for just sitting around on.
Ease of use:
The ball is very easy to use, as you can use it in lots of different ways, for lots of different things.
You will need to get some sort of foot pump, as it doesn't come with one, and there is no way that you ... ...with an instruction sheet which gives you approximately 10 different excercises to do with the ball. These are all very simple to follow, and have diagrams to help explain them. The information sheet also says that the ball can be used as a seat when working at your computer etc. Personally I don't think that I could use the ball for that as I like to have a back support when at the computer. I do often just lounge around on the ball though.
As ...
lynh17 13.10.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Gymnastik Ball
Advantages: Helps you keep fit, is fun to use Disadvantages: you need to have good balance and not use a carpetted floor
Overall
The ball is a regular gym size and works i nthe same way. It has the feel of professional quality materials and is easy to store (if delated)
Using the ball
The ball should be easy to use and all members of my family can use it for the sitting exercises except me, I tend to roll or fall of it (it makes for good comedy viewing), There are so many diffenret excercises you can do with this ball in theory you shouldn't get tired of it. The ... ...The footpump I had is quite a cheap one and takes a lot of effort to get inflated (an excercise in itself) Back problems
This can be really good to relieve the discomfort of any back pain - as it allows gravity to blow through your spine rather than putting pressure on other parts of the body (i.e. ensures you keep a straight spine).
Buying:
You can buy these most places, I brought mine from Amazon and cost 9.99 which I felt was a good price for ...
bettyboouk 16.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Gymnastik Ball
