Stability Ball Pushup for Strength and BalanceThe stability ball pushup is a great exercise to strengthen the whole of your upper body while simultaneously working the core or abdominals. If I could only do one upper body exercise this would be the one! Why? Because doing proper pushups works the whole upper body, the chest, arms, shoulders, back, and doing a pushup on the ball works the core as well. What a perfect exercise! Kind of like an egg or banana you get all you need from one perfect thing.
How to do Pushups on the Stability Ball:
Postition for your pushups workout:
Beginner Pushup Position: Lying with your stomach on the ball walk out until your pelvis (hips) are supported on the ball with legs long and hands directly under your shoulders. Your hamstrings (back of the thigh) and buttock muscles should be engaged so that your body is one long plank so you'll move like a teeter totter with the fulcrum(center) as your navel. Click on the picture to the side and find this and more great stability ball exercise moves.
Intermediate Stability Ball Pushup Position Walk yourself out until your thighs or kneecaps are positioned on the ball. Again the back of the legs and buttocks should be tight so you are long and strong.
Advanced Stability Ball Pushup Position: Walk yourself out until your shins or feet are positioned on the ball with your body long and strong like a plank.
MOVEMENT:
Bend your arms lowering your chest down between your hands. While you lower the upper body the lower body should go up like a teeter totter would. Then press yourself back up by straightening your arms until you are in a plank position again.Beginners may want to only bend the arms a little bit until you are able to keep the body still. Tips: Keep the abdominals and backs of the legs tight. The elbows, when bending should fall back towards the hips so you get more work in the triceps and backs of the shoulders. Check out my Stability Ball Pushup Video on YouTube here!
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