Balls!

Training is progressing..sort of..sometimes it’s hard to spot improvements but I am working more muscle groups into my exercises.  Other than actually pounding the roads, I have to do specific strengthening exercises which primarily have focused on my glutes.  If you’ve read some of my other posts, you’ll know this is an ongoing theme that I’m working on, with the help of a really good Sports Physiotherapist.

This week’s Physio session concentrated, again, on that referred leg pain I get (which actually comes from my Piriformis muscles much further up).  I’d mentioned my interest in building my abdominal muscles to try to strengthen my ‘core’ last week and had walked away with a scary body-builder-type book detailing lots of ‘abs’ exercises (The Big Book of Abs) … an interesting tome peppered with some fab looking chaps who’ve clearly spent a lot of time in the gym … and yes, I was way more interested in the pictures than the articles!!

Half way through Wednesday’s Physio session it was time to switch focus from tush to abs!  First though .. a re-introduction to the Swiss ball.  If you’ve not come across this piece of invaluable gym equipment, I should point out it has even more uses than it does names – a.k.a stability ball, exercise ball, swiss ball, balance ball, Pezzi ball, Swedish ball but it should not be confused with ‘medicine ball’ which is much smaller and heavier.

Giggles ensued with a variety of silly-looking but really difficult exercises using the ball.  I’ve become used to doing my normal exercises that, if I’m honest, have become a little too easy.  The ball was a really different experience altogether.  One of the main benefits of exercising with an exercise ball is that instead of exercising directly on a hard flat surface your body responds to the instability of the ball by trying to remain balanced, which means you work lots more muscles.  In other words…it’s a lot harder work but you get great results with perseverance!

Just to make sure I worked really hard (!), I finished off the session doing abs exercises alongside my Physio.  Keeping pace with him was challenging but not impossible – luckily I’ve always done ‘crunches’ and don’t feel as though I’m starting from scratch.  So having worked lower, mid, upper and obliques that was me done at the Physios for another week.  Lots more work to do on my own though!

My own Swiss ball also replaces an office chair – much more comfortable and I’m working my muscles whilst sitting down writing to you too!