Pilates is a physical fitness system devised by Joseph Pilates in Germany in the early 20th century. It consists of a series of gentle, muscle strengthening exercises using yoga principles and is thought to be helpful for people who suffer back pain.
A Pilates exercise ball can add to your training program. This ball improves your stability, coordination and balance as well as intensifying your usual exercises. Basically anything that can be done on a mat can be performed on an exercise ball giving more interest and fun.
Whether you decide to work out on a mat or with the addition of a Pilates Exercise Ball the main thing to remember is to keep movements smooth and gentle – nothing jerky.
The stability ball forces various muscle groups to work out where perhaps only one group is used on the mat. This is because whilst concentrating on a particular muscle group in an exercise other muscles are brought into use in order to balance the body on the ball. In this way various stabilising muscles come into play thus causing them to be strengthened even though you do not consider them. So get going with your Pilates exercise ball.
