The past decade brought interesting changes to the fitness industry. In contrast to the high-impact go-go years of the 80s, in the 90s, mind/body fitness became "the thing." As a result of this introspective fitness focus, we began to hear buzz words like "core" and balance. When Pilates workouts appeared on the fitness scene, everything old became new again. Back in the 1940s, Joseph Pilates was talking about power house training as a means of healing and preventing injuries, developing balance and enhancing athleticism. In the 90s, the power house was given a new name: core.
Meanwhile, fitness participants were, quite literally, having a ball with a new product on the fitness market. Not only does the stability ball provide a fun and challenging workout, it's also a great workout for the core. As Pilates and stability ball training increased in popularity, fitness professionals realized that the two workouts were meant for each other. Many of the Pilates Mat and equipment exercises could be performed on the stability ball. In fact, instructors discovered that the stability ball had two distinct advantages: performing Pilates exercises on the stability ball requires more balance than training on the traditional Pilates equipment and training on the stability ball is more cost effective that a Pilates equipment class.
As such, a multitude of Pilates stability ball books and videos rolled into the fitness market.
What to Look for
For the self-reliant fitness enthusiasts, stability ball Pilates books, DVDs and videos can be a great investment. They are a great choice for anyone who has been doing Pilates Matwork and needs to add a bit of pizazz to their Pilates program. However, if you are a Pilates novice, it behooves you to take a live class prior to using a Pilates book or video. There is a great deal of subtlety to the Pilates technique. Seemingly simple exercises are often more complex than they appear.
Given the subtlety of both Pilates and stability ball exercise, choose a Pilates book or video that provides detailed explanations of all of the exercises. An ideal Pilates stability ball book or video will provide modifications of the more challenging exercises. If you need to purchase a stability ball for your Pilates workout, keep in mind that you might need one that is somewhat smaller than the balls used for traditional workouts.
Common Pitfalls
If you do decide to go with a Pilates stability ball book, DVD or video, the first thing you should do is check out the qualifications of the instructor. Fortunately, since we are living in the Age of the Internet, this is a relatively easy thing to do. Research the author's name and look at their qualifications. As always, spend the extra few bucks and go for the durable, burst-proof balls.
As the term Pilates gained popularity, it became one of the misused terms in the fitness vocabulary. Many so-called Pilates workouts are actually more like yoga. Some are even aerobic. Steer clear of anything that refers to "Pilates poses." Pilates does not involve posing. A Pilates workout should move fluidly from exercise to exercise.
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