Nov
10
At the end of my kickboxing class last week we did a bunch of exercises using a stability ball — or fitness ball, or exercise ball, or Swiss ball, or big-ass rubber inflatable round whatsit — and I was kind of amazed at the workout you can get with those things. I mean, just the effort of not rolling comically off the top of it is a fair challenge, and once you master that, you can do all these crazy moves that isolate various muscle groups.
Plus, you can bounce on it, which is wicked fun.
So I bought my own exer-sphere, and let me tell you, I never would have guessed that there could be so many entertaining uses for a giant rubber ball. In addition to the exercises you can do with it, you can totally re-enact that classic boulder scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. You can freak out your household pets by rolling it at them. You can drape yourself over it backwards in order to stretch your spine, then use it as a weapon to fend off your advancing husband, who insists that your pose was a deliberate provocation for him to “get up ON that”.
Also, toddlers love giant rubber balls:
Babies, however, find them confusing:
Have I mentioned how much I am loving this kickboxing class, by the way? There’s something immensely satisfying about strapping on a pair of gloves and punching the bejesus out of a heavy object, and I am always weirdly thrilled when my knuckles are bruised afterwards. When I’m in class and the music’s blaring and everyone around me is panting and sweating and the sound of the bags being struck is like a drumbeat, I feel a savage kind of giddiness. It’s this clean, cathartic, positive method of experiencing aggression and violence, if that makes any kind of sense. Like I’m just forcefully pouring every frustration out of my body, and filling up that space with strength. Sure, sometimes I am more than a little convinced I’m going to barf a lung straight out my eyesocket, but man, there’s nothing like it.
Plus, you never know when the ability to shatter someone’s kneecap with a well-aimed back kick might come in handy. Otherwise you’re just watching Spencer Pratt strut by unharmed and thinking of what might have been.
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I have one of those balls too and I love it is fun and really helps with stretching and stuff too. Once you get your balance that is.
I have one of those balls. I love it, I do crunches on it, way better then just on the floor. It’s great for my back too. When I was going to physical therapy they had me do alot of ball stuff.
I love my fit ball, but if you really want to get use out of it, read Robert G Barretts novel “Mystery Bay Blues” (http://www.robertgbarrett.com.au/books/mystery_bay_blues.htm) where his new BFF “Amazing Grace” gives him some umm therapy… using the ball…
That is EXACTLY why i play roller derby. It’s empowering, gratifying, and there is something awesome about being all bruised up. haha
I give it 3 months before you are cursing the day you bought one because your children think they can use it to play “catch.” In the room with the not-wall-mounted flat screen tv. Just sayin’.
I used to use my ball all the time for crunches + harassing my dog, but now it sits deflated in the closet because it reminds me of being insanely pregnant. I sat on that bitch + rolled my hips for hours trying to lure Hot Pocket out of my trap/lair/cave/microwave. . .
Also referred to as “birth balls”. We have one bouncing around here too… I love it for stretching out my back… perhaps I should use it for it’s intended purpose- EXERCISE!
That last photo… it’s the most adorable picture I’ve ever seen. Bar none.
I have two exercise balls, and when I get bored I line them up in front of me, place my hands on the first one, and see how far I can roll myself. Note: this is not good in crowded spaces.
Hee! I want to take up kickboxing just IN CASE I ever see Spencer Pratt. Also? JB is obnoxiously adorable.
I have friends that swore by this to sooth a newborn. Sit and bounce while holding the baby to stop fussiness. It calms the baby and gives you a good workout to boot!
ok…you just crack me up!!
The 10-minute solution folks have a nice version with exercise ball (heh heh) that I’ve been doing for a while.
And yes, there are ways to use it that both you and JB would enjoy.
Your kickboxing class sounds like Fight Club. Especially the part about having bruised knuckles the next day. Your coworkers must be wondering…
I hear those bouncy balls are good for quieting squalling newborns too. That will be nice, since ours just sits in our closet most of the time (the ball, that is, although…)
Oh, I have one of those, too, and I love to roll it at the dog and watch him run away and then turn back around to face his adversary and then bark like he’s about to be murdered. It’s hilarious. Why, I think I’ll go do that now!
Mine is also deflated because the kids don’t know when to leave the damn thing alone. Apparently it ISN’T after the four thousandth time your mother has yelled at you to get off/leave alone/stop throwing the damn ball.
I used to take a class of just exercises on those balls, man it can be hard but so, so good for you! I LOVED my boxing classes I took when I was in NYC. LOVED. I loved wrapping up my hands and I loved how sweaty I would get. I miss it a lot but my gym here doesn’t have it and plus now I am pg. so I don’t know if it would be a workout for now. But maybe I’ll get a heavy bag for the summer and start beating the shit out of it in the basement!
1. Dylan is adorable.
2. Toddlers love the ball way more than adults.
3. How long did it take you to move onto Level 3 of the Shred because honestly, Level 2 = death by Jillian!
Hehe, I’ve always enjoyed martial arts more than any other workout. It’s just so much more… exciting =P Plus, now you have a response when your husband uses a line as bad as “get up on that.”
Those balls are great.
Also I think boxing and martial arts are great for disciplined violence.
Oh Spencer. *shakin’ my head*
The title to this entry is hilarious. And it’s a big blue ball! Blue balls! Haaahaaark…*clears throat*
Yes, I am immature.
Thanks for the laughs. I envisioned my cat running through the living room away from a giant ball, pure terror on his face. I gotta get me one of these.
Aw, look at your little Atlas!
Fussbot likes to pull to stand on the ball and then topple over as soon as it starts rolling. He thinks it’s the funniest thing ever. We also play “flying baby” on the ball and it’s always a hit.
Spencer. Kickboxing. I like it.
I have one of those. I haven’t used it in a while because I wasn’t allowed to work out following my surgery, but I feel smushy now, so I’m going to pop that DVD in tomorrow. I miss it.
Also, I named my ball Happy Fun Ball. DO NOT TAUNT HAPPY FUN BALL!
Lets just say that perhaps you could use the giant ball to assist you in doing a somersault in the house, in the same room as your now wife is quietly reading a book. Hmmm, I wonder what would happen? Surely not a broken nose!
I strongly recommend encouraging acrobatic users to remove shoes prior to rolling around on the ball. My nose definitely agrees. Have fun!
I used to sit on my ball while at the computer, but even worse, I used to hold the keyboard in my LAP. For like 2 years. I don’t know how I managed that…
Next stop – fight club.
I LOVE my kickboxing class. I always come home in the best mood on Wednesday nights because there really is something so satisfying about kicking and punching things for an hour.
I have one stability ball video I do at home, and I have yet to finish the abs workout. It’s that hard.
If you ever feel like taking up another martial esque art, I know of a good fencing club in Seattle. Admittedly less aerobic, but very good exercise just the same. And I also love my giant bouncy ball, but I mostly just sit on it because it’s fun.
Face the wall with the ball at your feet. Hold it tight with your knee so the ball cant move.
Grab the nearest toddler, hold their hands, and let them jump on the ball to their hearts content, while your legs hold the ball inplace against the wall.
My kids LOVE this.
“Plus, you never know when the ability to shatter someone’s kneecap with a well-aimed back kick might come in handy. Otherwise you’re just watching Spencer Pratt strut by unharmed and thinking of what might have been.”
yes, yes, YES.
I have no idea how you made it through two pregnancies without the ball…it was great for back pain – and after the mcnugget was born, it’s a surefire way of bouncing him to sleep instead of traipsing up and down the hallway 498 times every night. Plus, you get to park it in front of the TV and catch up on shows – bonus!
Madam, I knew you were My People, but this pair of sentences proves it, forever and ever, and may the Holy Flaming Shatner’s will be done:
“Plus, you never know when the ability to shatter someone’s kneecap with a well-aimed back kick might come in handy. Otherwise you’re just watching Spencer Pratt strut by unharmed and thinking of what might have been. “
Love the toenail polish – Lincoln park in the dark?
I bought one of those balls for the sole purpose of using it during labor, which I did for all of – maybe – five minutes. Guess I could bring it out and actually exercise with it!
My own eight month old finds the ‘ball on top of him’ trick to be hysterical. Big rolling giggles for the ball.
Oh, dear… Spencer. I would like to see HEIDI place a well-aimed back kick into his kneecap.