If you thought there was a wide variety of Foam Rollers to choose from in the last issue, you are going to have a ball with this edition. To keep it more manageable, we are going to focus on 3 types: toning/weighted balls, fitness balls and Yamuna® balls. Beyond these, please see Balanced Body where you can check out more than a dozen different varieties including “pinky”, spiked, Franklin, posture balls and more…
As a reminder, this series is concentrated on pieces that are accessible for home both financially and physically (easily fits into a small space). The Pilates balls chosen for this edition are the ones I thought would be most helpful for the majority of those reading this newsletter. There are many other great Pilates balls too.
Since Pilates and other reputable manufacturers’ may not be as commonly known, this series will direct you to recognized names in the industry, but similar products may be found on Amazon or through other retailers. This is not an endorsement of any particular company or product.
Pilates Balls:
Toning/Weighted Balls: Small
Toning balls, like the name implies, are weighted balls. They are small and easy to hold like dumbells. They generally come in 1-3 pounds in weight.
Merrithew does have 2 & 3 lbs available as well but do watch as some are sold individually and others as sets. Also, this company is in Canada so shipping to the U.S. can sometimes be an issue.
Please note these balls are sold individually. So if you want a set of 2lbs, it looks like you will need to purchase 2 balls.
Fitness Balls:
Large
Fitness balls are the large size that can support a persons body weight. You can sit or stretch your back or front with your full weight on the ball.
Finding the right fitness ball is based on your height. When seated, you want knees in line with hips or even hips a little higher than knees. But you do not want your knees higher than your hips (like trying to sit in a kindergartner’s chair!)
Tip: Since people have been at home and sitting more, try sitting on a fitness ball at your desk rather than a regular chair. This will stimulate your core, improve your balance and be a good posture reminder. Begin sitting on the ball for short periods of time (20-30 minutes) and then gradually increase as feels right for your body.
Burst Resistance Fitness Balls:
If you go to the link and scroll down, there is a little chart on that page that will help you find the right ball for your height.
These balls are also burst resistant and free of latex, PVC, etc. Unfortunately, it looks like they only have the small and large size available. If you are really short or tall, this could be a fit for you.
Yamuna® Balls:
Technically, we are stepping outside of the Pilates realm when we talk about Yamuna. Yamuna® Body Rolling (YBR) is a method all on its’ own, but since there are so many other kinds of balls for myofascial release, I wanted to go ahead and include YBR in this newsletter. If you would like to learn a little more about YBR and compare to other kinds of rolling, please see these previous articles on the topics: “On The ‘Yamuna’ Ball” and “On A Roll”.
Whether you are looking for gold, silver, pearl or black, you will find it all and more on the link below. In addition, you can learn more about each kind of ball when you click on its link on Yamuna’s website and find what is right for you!
Hope you had a ball in this edition and that what you learned will help you stay on the ball!
Keep Calm and Roll On,
Shannon