Hey guys,I recently purchased a stability ball to go with Cathe's PLB, CM and SM. This morning was the 1st time i used the ball, and I could not balance at all, I kept falling right off, cant do most of the exercises especially the ones in CM-roll ins and jack knives. Is this normal? how long will it take me to get some balance on the ball?? any suggestions, I am pretty frustrated.
Problem with Stability ball
- Thread starter Neha
- Start date
lol, yes, neha, this is totally normal, and happens to all of us. using the stability ball requires the use of other muscles to ain in balancing, esp. your core muscles. I would practice the moves on the floor first, then slowly try a couple of reps on the ball, until you can balance yourself. It just takes time 
Good luck! _tina
Good luck! _tina
amyg
Cathlete
Don't worry about the balance too much- I just tried a new video that had a bunch of ball stuff and my husband came out to check on me as I was grunting, yelling, yelping and falling off!!! He did find it terribly entertaining, though.
I have a follow up question on this one- my stability ball seems terribly flat compared to all the ones I see on the videos. I don't understand this- I have pumped it up as much as I can. It doesn't seem to be losing air anywhere- it's just that as soon as I sit on it, I sink down about a foot!
I think I got mine a few years ago from spri products. Should I get a different one that has more firm rubber or something?
I have a follow up question on this one- my stability ball seems terribly flat compared to all the ones I see on the videos. I don't understand this- I have pumped it up as much as I can. It doesn't seem to be losing air anywhere- it's just that as soon as I sit on it, I sink down about a foot!
I think I got mine a few years ago from spri products. Should I get a different one that has more firm rubber or something?
darli ann
Cathlete
Boy, can I relate to this! My husband and I both found my stability ball to be quite a comical new "toy" when I first got it. It ditched me a few times and bounced away, was hard to keep in place and rolled right over me. But now I love that thing - ya just get used to the movement and learn to control it and find the concentration it takes to "stabilize" it is what works those body parts. Give it more time - if I can do it you can! :7
kathryn
Cathlete
If you're new to using a stability ball, it's absolutely normal to be unstable (they should call it an "instability ball"LOL!).
The good news is, using the ball will really stengthen your own stablizing muscles, and it gets easier every time you try. You can stabilizes the ball a bit at first by setting it in an upside-down step riser ( I just thought of that, pretty neat, huh?).
Roll-ins and jack knives are some of the most difficult, if not THE most difficult stability ball moves, so don't be discouraged that you can't do them. I wasn't able to do jackknives until after I did a rotation of P90X and strengthened my core and sholder girdle. There's a lot that needs to work to make this move work: core, glutes, arms, shoulder girdle.
Just keep on trying, and be happy with small improvement.
The good news is, using the ball will really stengthen your own stablizing muscles, and it gets easier every time you try. You can stabilizes the ball a bit at first by setting it in an upside-down step riser ( I just thought of that, pretty neat, huh?).
Roll-ins and jack knives are some of the most difficult, if not THE most difficult stability ball moves, so don't be discouraged that you can't do them. I wasn't able to do jackknives until after I did a rotation of P90X and strengthened my core and sholder girdle. There's a lot that needs to work to make this move work: core, glutes, arms, shoulder girdle.
Just keep on trying, and be happy with small improvement.
kathryn
Cathlete
>I have a follow up question on this one- my stability ball
>seems terribly flat compared to all the ones I see on the
>videos. I don't understand this- I have pumped it up as much
>as I can. It doesn't seem to be losing air anywhere- it's
>just that as soon as I sit on it, I sink down about a foot!
>
Different stability balls have a different firmness. I have a Paul Check DUra Ball Pro, which is VERY firm, and a Core Secrets ball, which is mooshier. One thing that is recommended with most balls is to inflate it about 80%, then let it sit 24 hours to let the material get used to being stretched out, and to prolong the life of the ball, then fill it the rest of the way. Maybe your ball isn't really filled all the way. When you press your thumb into it, is there only about a 1/2 indentation around the thumb? That's how some balls say to judge the inflation. Or you could measure out a piece of string to 55 or 65 cm (whatever your ball is) and wind the string aroud the ball to see if it's the right inflation.
>seems terribly flat compared to all the ones I see on the
>videos. I don't understand this- I have pumped it up as much
>as I can. It doesn't seem to be losing air anywhere- it's
>just that as soon as I sit on it, I sink down about a foot!
>
Different stability balls have a different firmness. I have a Paul Check DUra Ball Pro, which is VERY firm, and a Core Secrets ball, which is mooshier. One thing that is recommended with most balls is to inflate it about 80%, then let it sit 24 hours to let the material get used to being stretched out, and to prolong the life of the ball, then fill it the rest of the way. Maybe your ball isn't really filled all the way. When you press your thumb into it, is there only about a 1/2 indentation around the thumb? That's how some balls say to judge the inflation. Or you could measure out a piece of string to 55 or 65 cm (whatever your ball is) and wind the string aroud the ball to see if it's the right inflation.