Abs on the Ball: A Dynamic Approach to Building Superb Abdominals: A Pilates Approach to Building Superb Abdominals - Softcover

Colleen Craig

Softcover

ISBN 10: 089281098X ISBN 13: 9780892810987

Publisher: Healing Arts Press, 2003

Synopsis

The exercise ball has long been recommended by doctors, physical therapists and Olympic coaches for people suffering from back pain. Now Colleen Craig, author of the best selling book and video Pilates on the Ball, reveals why the exercise ball, also, is a tool that has no match for building superb abdominal strength. She presents a selection of over 50 innovative exercises, including some of the key powerhouse-builders from the Pilate's Method, all of which she has adapted specifically to the ball. Craig shows how traditional sit-ups and "ab" machines actually limit the degree to which abdominal muscles can be trained and can even aggravate lower back pain and neck tension. In contrast, the very mobility of the ball targets sleepy muscles, recruiting both deep as well as the superficial abdominal muscle fibres to enhance both performance and results. ABS ON THE BALL includes exercises for all ability levels. It shows how to breathe properly and how to activate the correct muscles during a workout-from the core exercises of the Waterfall, Oblique Twist and Full Abdominal Curls to the more advance Full Rollup, Shoulder Bridges and Backwards Crunch.The author, also, offers a 10- and a 20- minute workout designed not only to build the abdominal core, but also to strengthen and train deep muscles in the back and hip in order to soothe lower back pain and increase overall body strength, balance and co-ordination.

About this title

Product Description:

The exercise ball has long been recommended by doctors, physical therapists, and Olympic coaches for people suffering from back pain. Now Colleen Craig, author of the bestselling book Pilates on the Ball, reveals why the exercise ball is unmatched as a tool for building superb abdominal strength. She presents a selection of over 80 innovative exercises, including some of the key powerhouse-builders from the Pilates Method, all of which she has adapted specifically to the ball. Craig shows how traditional sit-ups and ""ab"" machines actually limit the degree to which abdominal muscles can be trained and can even aggravate lower back pain and neck tension. In contrast, the very mobility of the ball targets underutilized muscles, recruiting both deep and superficial abdominal muscle fibers to enhance results. Abs on the Ballincludes exercises for all ability levels that show how to properly use the breath and how to activate the correct muscles during a workout--from the core exercises of the Waterfall, Oblique Curls, and Full Abdominal Curls to the more advanced Side Twist Plank, the Teaser, and Backward Crunch. The author also offers a 10- and 20-minute workout designed not only to build the abdominal core, but also to strengthen and train deep muscles in the back and hip in order to soothe lower back pain and increase overall body strength, balance, and coordination.

Review:

" . . . brings a fresh element to fitness training that will complement basic exercise collections in both public and academic libraries." (Deborah Anne Broocker, Library Journal, May 1, 2003)

"Abs on the Ball gives the fitness world an easy-to-follow program to strengthen abdomnal muscles effectively and safely." (R. John Allcorn, New Age Retailer, September 2003, Vol. 17 No. 5)

"Ms. Craig offers a refreshing approach to abdominal training while using some of the very effective and popular Pilates techniques." (Susannah Kent, Vitality Magazine, June 2003)

About this edition

• Publisher: Healing Arts Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 089281098X
• ISBN 13: 9780892810987
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192