How about an Exercise Ball?!?

Your in house guinea pigs here at KEWL have tried out a new fitness idea for you, and we're hooked!  Have you ever tried out a Fitness Ball?!?  Or Exercise Ball - or Balance Ball, or whatever the manufacturer is calling them in your neck of the woods?  Balance Balls are a standard part of every physical therapy office.  Well, if they're so great, why don't we all have one at home?  Because we have to open our minds a little and find a place for them in our homes.

Here at KEWL, Susan uses one as her desk chair!  It can take a little getting used to, but the benefits in posture and general fitness are worth it!  Every once in a while, we can see her bouncing away behind her desk, which relieves back, neck and muscle tension, and makes you feel silly too, so it's good for the soul as well! 

Getting a Balance Ball is easy.  They can cost around $30 at most stores, but you can get them for as little as $10 as discount stores like Marshall's and Ross!  Be careful to buy one that fits your size!  Most boxes show the diameter of the ball, which should be about equal to the length between your rear end and the floor when seated with your feet flat on the ground.  It can be a little higher, but not much. 

Then, you'll have to get an adult to help you blow it up.  You can't do it with your mouth, because you need more tension than your lungs can ever create!  If you have an SUV, van or truck, you can cruise on down to the gas station, and use the air compressor there to fill it up.  This won't work with a regular car, because once it's blown up, you won't be able to get it back in the car door!  At home, a bicycle pump works, too, and for refills.  It's good if you can take turns with someone, so that everyone gets a rest now and then!

Once you have it blown up, CAREFULLY try it out!  If you have balance problems, only use it with an adult there to help you out!  By nature, a ball will roll any weight off of it, so you need to keep your legs in a wide stance to support yourself.  If you get lazy, you'll fall off, so be careful!!!  The good thing is, just staying seated on the ball is a mini-workout for all the muscles of your legs and core, or central body!

And if you want, you can learn to use the ball for other fun stretches and exercises as well!  You can do push ups and sit ups and all sorts of stretches on the ball, and most balls will come with a booklet or DVD giving you directions.  Try out the 'the dolphin' or 'the mermaid', or if they don't have those directions, see if you can't come up with them yourself!  Get creative!

For safety's sake, always use your ball in a large area free of sharp objects, or things that will hurt you if you should fall off of the ball!!!  And if friends come over and want to use the ball, make sure they use it safely as well!!!  You'll want them to get their parents permission first!

 Good luck, and good health!