Adding a Pilates Ball to your workout can provide a new way to tone your body.  Pilates Balls can be used to strengthen your abs, glutes, legs, and even your arms.  Basically, a Pilates Ball can enhance the tone of your entire body.  Knowing how to use a Pilates Ball to achieve overall toning isn’t difficult; you can find an abundance of easily accessible videos and books on using a ball with Pilates.

Targeting Your Abs

A Pilates ball will increase your ab strength and definition by forcing you to use your core to balance on the ball.  Pilates is said to be the art of ‘contrology’, that is the art of balancing and controlling the movement of your body.  A Pilates ball adds an extra challenge for your abs, as it is a means to create numerous positions for your body for which your abs must overcompensate to maintain your overall balance.

Targeting Your Legs

Like ab-work, using a Pilates ball for your legs is also all about control.  These movements will vary slightly from those focused on your abs, because instead of trying to hold your body against the Pilates ball you will be using it as a support to add resistance to your legs.  Using a ball for your legs is a great way to enhance other Pilates workouts because the ball provides you with the means to naturally increase the resistance your legs must work against.

Targeting Your Arms

Using a Pilates ball to tone your arms is very similar to using it for your legs, in that you are balancing yourself on the ball by pushing down with your arms.  The ball will allow you to control the amount of resistance you are pushing against by allowing you to situate yourself against the floor at different angles.  If you aren’t a fan of weight training, a Pilates ball is a great alternative for toning up your arms.

Pilates balls are easy to find in your local sports stores, exercise equipment retailers, and especially on the web.  Pilates balls are a very affordable addition to your home exercise equipment.  They can be used in an infinite number of ways, and most Pilates videos incorporate them into their workouts.  Not only that, but a lot of Pilates balls can be easily inflated and deflated, making them very portable.  You can take your own ball with you to the gym, or throw it in the back of your car to use on your next vacation.

 

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