Abs on the Ball

The exercise ball has long been recommended by doctors, physical therapists and Olympic coaches for people suffering from back pain. Now Colleen Craig, author of the best selling book and video Pilates on the Ball, reveals why the exercise ball, also, is a tool that has no match for building superb abdominal strength. She presents a selection of over 50 innovative exercises, including some of the key powerhouse-builders from the Pilate's Method, all of which she has adapted specifically to the ball. Craig shows how traditional sit-ups and "ab" machines actually limit the degree to which abdominal muscles can be trained and can even aggravate lower back pain and neck tension. In contrast, the very mobility of the ball targets sleepy muscles, recruiting both deep as well as the superficial abdominal muscle fibres to enhance both performance and results. ABS ON THE BALL includes exercises for all ability levels. It shows how to breathe properly and how to activate the correct muscles during a workout-from the core exercises of the Waterfall, Oblique Twist and Full Abdominal Curls to the more advance Full Rollup, Shoulder Bridges and Backwards Crunch. The author, also, offers a 10- and a 20- minute workout designed not only to build the abdominal core, but also to strengthen and train deep muscles in the back and hip in order to soothe lower back pain and increase overall body strength, balance and co-ordination.