Fitness fads come and go, but the best ones stick around. The fitness ball is one that will be staying. More and more people are finding that a fitness ball can do wonders for their workout routine, their stomach and it improves their fitness level too.

New uses for the fitness ball are popping up all the time, so I have put together a list of the most effective ways to use your fitness ball.

Abdominal Training
When the fitness ball was first introduced, it was mainly used for abdominal workouts, and this is still one of the best ways to use a fitness ball. The fitness ball is a great tool for working towards a flat stomach, and has advantages over lying flat on your back and doing crunches.

The fitness ball provides more flexible support for your back, while at the same time working both the back and abdominal muscles in ways that cannot be accomplished on the floor. It also enables you to work at varying angles to reach muscles that wouldn’t otherwise be getting a good workout.

Weight Training
It may seem unusual, but many people have traded in their weight benches for a fitness ball. The fitness ball has the same benefits with weight training as it does in abdominal workouts: better support, deeper and more extensive muscle building and the ability to change up the angle to work those hard-to-reach muscles.

Pilates, Yoga and Flexibility
The fitness ball is a natural fit with flexibility workouts like Pilates and yoga. Because the fitness ball is not rigid, it allows for a much broader range of motion and focuses even more attention on your “core” which is the central part of these workouts.

Sitting
Yes. You read that right. Simply sitting on your fitness ball can be beneficial. It offers an entirely different type of support than a chair and you actually get a workout from the ways your muscles must work to maintain balance on the fitness ball. And contrary to what you may imagine, you don’t bounce around. A fitness ball is sturdier than you think.

Playing
Let’s not forget about fun. After all, the fitness ball is, well, a ball, and that can come in handy if you want to have a bit of fun with the kids. It’s a great way to get them active and spend some quality time with the family as well!

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