Be Fit: Ditch the Machines and Try This Stability Ball Workout

I’m a big advocate of exercises without a machine. 

Machine-based exercise is good for developing basic strength and isolating specific muscles. But a downside of machines is that they lock you into one specific path of motion. When it comes to daily living, our bodies are their own machine and they move in unpredictable ways. 

In today’s video, I'll show you one of my favorite exercises that you can do with a stability ball to develop your core while resisting forces in many directions.

This is a challenging exercise that will stress your abdominals, lower back, shoulders and chest. 

Although you’re rolling forward and back, the ball also wants to move side-to-side and requires that you resist movement in multiple planes.

Begin by bracing your abs as though someone was going to punch you in the stomach. This bracing action will help protect you against injury. Only roll out as far as you can while keeping the natural curve of the lower back.  If the back begins to fall inward, stop and return to the start. 

As your strength develops, you'll be able to go our further.