The stability or fitness ball is one of my favorite pieces of equipment in the gym. I use it on a normal basis during training sessions as well as in my own personal workouts. The stability ball offers a plethora of modifications and progressions to almost every exercise in the book. A dumbbell bench press can become a dumbbell ball press and a standard crunch can become a muscle burning ball crunch.
The stability ball not only can be used as a chair while you spend countless hours in front of the computer or television, but a great exercise tool during pregnancy. The stability ball helps pregnant women maintain balance and stability as well as a strong core. A strong core is vital during the pushing phase of labor. The shape and give of the ball molds to the shape of your back/body thus relieving any pressure or tension created during other normal movements. Therefore, this allows pregnant women the opportunity to exercise longer throughout the pregnancy (which will help prepare your muscles and body for labor and post-delivery).
Kettlebells are all the buzz in the fitness world right now. Kettlebells have been around for centuries, but have become popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts in recent years.
They are mainly used for ballistic or swinging movements or used in press and pull movements similar to those associated with normal weight training. Kettlebell exercises engage the entire body, thus making each movement maximize core stabilization and total-body muscle recruitment. In other words, kettlebells are a great total body workout that improve muscle tone and reduce body fat.
I understand that the majority of the female population is intimidated by weight training, but kettlebells are a great way to reach your fitness goals and have a blast doing so. I recommend integrating a kettlebell exercise routine or two into your weekly workout regimen. The benefits are completely worth it.
Swimming is one of the best non-weight bearing activities out there and I totally recommend implementing a swim routine into your workout. It’s a great way to burn an enormous amount of calories all while having a blast in the water. Non-weight bearing refers to no weight or pressure being forced onto the joints, thus great for those with injuries, arthritis, or pain.
Although indoor pools are somewhat hard to come by, they are definitely worth the small cost to use. You may find indoor pools at your local health or fitness club, university, YMCA, or hotel. Before starting your swimming workouts, here are a few things you should know:
The kettlebell is a cast iron weight used as a popular exercise tool in today’s fitness world. They are typically found in CrossFit gyms and athletic training facilities, but are becoming ever more popular at private training studios and health clubs.
Kettlebell exercises are intended to increase total body muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance, balance and stability, and agility. They are used as a functional, total body exercise to condition the body as a whole. Each precise kettlebell exercise or movement is designed to engage multiple muscles at one time.
Cardiovascular training can get monotonous from time to time; that’s why it doesn’t hurt to modify or change up your cardio routine every once in a while. Spinning is a great way to do so. Spinning is among one of the most popular group fitness classes out there today. Spinning consists of upbeat music, a motivating instructor, and a hard core muscle burning workout.
The stationary bikes offer a great cardiovascular workout all while improving your lower body muscular strength and endurance. Every class is a little different, depending on the instructor, but mainly consists of a combination of sprints, varying resistance levels, and normal rides.
The best thing about spinning is that you can go at your own pace or keep up with the instructor; it’s totally up to you. Spinning is also a great way to exercise with a friend, make new friends, or break through the boredom barrier with a new style of exercise.
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