Pilates

You wont be around Pilates very long before you come across the famous (some say infamous) Pilates ball. Too big to play football with and big enough to be something about which you have to think a little bit about where to store. The good news is that the balls themselves are fairly inexpensive and genuinely are helpful aids in perfecting your Pilates routine. This article will run through three key things you should keep in mind when buying and maintaining your Pilates ball. Firstly well cover some buying tips, then some safety advice and finally some advice for when your ball finally lets you down.

These days its quite possible your ball comes with your workout DVD. Many of the popular Pilates training courses package the ball in with the tapes and instructional video. Theres no harm in shopping around for that combination, just make sure the ball is properly sealed when it arrives in the mail. Nothing is more frustrating than a slowly deflating ball from the very get go! The simply test is to inflate the ball a little bit, then submerge the partially inflated ball under water (a bath not a shower) to see it any bubbles come out of tiny holes. If theres nothing, you should be fine.

On other practical points you should have your selection of colors if thats important to you. After all, a fun colored ball can add some much needed pizzazz to your workout. Of course you can always buy the balls directly from good fitness stores or online. Heres a tip: consider buying two the first time up. The balls are usually pretty robust, but better to have a backup than miss a week of workouts because you cant get around to buying a replacement ball.

Once you have the ball and have tested it in the water, you may find that any pump that comes with it might be more effort than its worth. Consider going to the local gas station and getting them to (carefully) inflate it for you instead. You might look a bit silly with the ball in the car, but its better than huffing and puffing to get it ready at home.

A word about safety. Please keep in mind that despite it actually being almost the very essence of a toy for kids - who can beat a giant ball for the idea of fun to be had? - you should be careful of the ball around kids. Its bigger than theyre used to and the dynamics of small kids and the surface area of the ball are unpredictable. The combination of kids being bounced off the ball and into household items is good reason to make the case that the ball is not to be played with as a toy. Of course, the same goes for you. Just because the ball itself is soft it doesnt mean that the coffee table, cupboards or door handles surrounding you while you do your workout are. Make sure youve some room around when you do your ball exercises. Not only does the sense of space serve a more focused work out, but the safety of falling on the carpet and not into furniture should be its own reward.

And lastly: when your ball finally gives up the ghost, do yourself a favor and get a new one. Patching is a temporary solution at best, and the last thing you need is a ball that is counterproductive to you getting the best Pilates workout possible. Follow these suggestions and your Pilates ball will be a much-appreciated part of your routine for years to come.

Pilates |