Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)In this text, Colleen Craig brings a new set of core strength exercises using inflatable balls. Note: this text not only uses a Swiss Ball; it also uses a Gymnic Overball. You probably won't find the Overball at local stores; you'll have to purchase online at somewhere like balldynamics.com or just put "gymnic overball" in a search engine for a list of vendors world-wide.
The 9-inch Overball is used for 3 things: as a Magic Circle for inner thigh/core strength, a small ball for balancing on, and a means to provide support and feedback on a variety of exercises (like a mini roll-down with the ball behind your pelvis). Colleen has created some innovative exercises here. Some of the exercises are done with a mostly-deflated Overball, so it really makes sense to have at least 2 of these guys.
Colleen makes a compelling case for the use of inflatable balls for core training in the Introduction. She points to some state-of-the-art research as to why the crunch-oriented "core training" isn't really core-oriented at all. The first three chapters are must reading for any Pilates students and for anyone who wants to understand the nature of core training and why Pilates hits the target so well for these exercises.
For beginners with Pilates, I still strongly recommend getting 10-15 group or private classes under your belt before trying any of this on your own. Core training really is a horse of a different color; we do not naturally know how to do it. While the balls give you great feedback for your proprioception, there really is no substitute for a live instructor to start you off with these kind of exercises. And many Pilates instructors have picked up some training on these balls.
This is a great book for any serious student of Pilates/core strength. If you follow these exercises, you will get stronger in the most important muscles in your body. And this are total-body exercisees: the advanced exercises presented here will involve all the muscles in your body. This is some kick-abs stuff!
Click Here to see more reviews about: Abs on the Ball: A Pilates Approach to Building Superb Abdominals
Get 31% OFF
0 comments:
Post a Comment