A yoga ball is a special exercise ball made of elastic rubber having a diameter of about 22 to 34 inches (55 to 85 cm). It has come to be known by a variety of names like exercise ball, sports ball, gym ball, Swiss ball, Pliates ball, fitness ball, and body ball. Swiss ball is its commonest name. Other names are given to it depending on the specific type of exercise for which it is used, yoga being one of them.
Besides exercise, yoga ball is used in physical therapy. However, it should not be confused with the medicine ball which is smaller but heavier than it. An interesting fact is that some people sit on a yoga ball instead of a chair (for example, an office chair), since this position serves to engage their abdominal and back muscles and helps maintain proper posture that will keep them balanced on the ball.
Benefits Of Using A Yoga Ball
Given a yoga ball, your body attains greater balance by directly responsding to the instability of the ball. This is not the case in exercising over a hard flat surfce. More muscles of the body are in contact with the ball and move accordingly to remain balanced. In the process, these mescles get stronger over time. The yoga ball is a great aid in exercises that focus on developing the strength of core body muscles i.e. the muscles of the abdomen and the back.
Yoga Ball in a Fitness Program
In a physical fitness program, yoga ball can be used in exercises at a wide range of difficulty levels. Some of the common uses of the ball include: developing overall control and strength of the core body muscles; increasing lower back mobility; increasing abdominal and back muscle strength; improving balance and stability; improving proprioception (the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself); and learning proper body mechanics and posture while lifting objects.
Lower Back Pain Therapy
One of the key uses of the Swiss ball is in therapy for lower back pain. Special exercises with the ball not only effectively treat the lower back pain but also help prevent further episodes of pain. The ball helps strengthen and develop the core body muscles that help to stabilize the spine, thus rehabilitating the back.
For all kinds of exercises with the ball, you must consult a trained and licensed physical therapist, occupational therapist, chiropractor, exercise physiologist or a physiatrist.
Author Resource:-
Eddie Lamb publishes an abundance of information on a range of topical subjects. This article Use A Yoga Ball for Fitness and Strength , is just one of a host of useful articles about Yoga listed on our site map at Yoga Stress Buster.
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