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Yoga ball is also known by a variety of other names such as birth ball, body ball, exercise ball, gum ball, pilates ball, swiss ball, therapy ball and several others. This simple yoga accessory has a wide range of benefits to offer. Let us take a look at some of them.
A yoga ball provides stability, which is needed to perform a lot of yoga poses. It also helps improve the overall balance. This makes yoga ball apt for poses that are slightly difficult to master. It even increases flexibility. You can use the yoga ball to garner additional support for practicing certain yoga asanas.
While yoga balls may provide additional support for some yoga poses, they may even add a balance challenge in some poses. If you are using yoga balls to increase the difficulty level, then you should do so under the supervision of an expert. Also, avoid using these balls if you are suffering from any kind of back pain.
Further on, yoga balls provide you a more comprehensive work. When you work out on a yoga ball as compared to a hard surface, your body needs to put in extra strength. This is because your body is made to work against the instability of the ball to stay balanced. For this purpose, the body ends up using more muscles than it normally would. This over a period of time leads to strengthening of muscles, particularly the abdominal and back muscles.
While balance yoga balls work for everyone, they are particularly of great help for those who are suffering from lower back pain. This is because using yoga balls involves taking support from the back and the stomach. It helps tone the muscles of the trunk in the body. It is for this reason that yoga balls are also used as a part of physiotherapy program for those suffering from lower back pain.
Using a yoga ball
You can easily incorporate a yoga ball into your yoga session. There are several yoga poses that can be practiced using a yoga ball. Some poses that you can try with the yoga ball are:
* Squats
* Upward facing dog
* Downward facing dog
* Warrior I
* Warrior II
* Child's pose
* Bridge
* Hip stretch
Using a yoga ball is neither very simple nor very tricky. But, if not used in the right manner, it can cause muscle spasm and several other injuries. It is for this reason that you should use a yoga ball under the supervision of a yoga instructor first.
Choosing a yoga ball
If you are looking for a yoga ball, you will easily find it at a sports equipment store. You may even buy one online. When buying a yoga ball, make sure that the material is durable enough. The ones in PVC are the best option. Also, go in for yoga balls that are anti burst as you will not want your ball to burst in the middle of a yoga session.
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