Athletic Works 65 Cm Body Ball: Product Review

Last year I decided that I was going to get fit. It's not easy if you are a woman who has given birth to three children, including a multiple birth (your body is never the same again) and who is now considered middle aged. However, I was determined to do it! I decided that traditional exercise was not going to accomplish my goal, so I decided to rely on several things: diet, be more active in daily life and to find new ways that I would enjoy to get fit. I decided that I wanted to try some Pilates and also get a "body ball".

Body balls are PVC balls that can be blown up with a pump (the pump comes with them) to use in various exercises to tone muscles and gain flexibility. You can make up your own moves, exercise to a DVD or use the materials that come with the body ball. Most have instructions and a sheet of recommended exercises.

I purchased an Athletic Works 65 cm Body Ball on my first trip to the store. It came with a poster with lots of exercises to tone just about every part of the body. It also came with a pump and a band to measure the ball with to make sure it has the right amount of air.

Here is what Athletic Works has to say about their body ball:

1)
Improves balance and flexibility
2)
Strengthens core muscles and improves coordination
3)
Latex-free, durable, PVC ball

Why I Chose Athletic Works Body Ball

There are many brands of body balls on the market, as well as different sizes. The standard size is 65 cm, which will work for most people. Prices range from $10.00 and up.

I compared the brands that were on the shelf at the Walmart I visited. The balls are all made out of PVC , so you are basically paying for the brand name. I chose the Athletic Works brand because it was priced at only $10.00 vs. almost $20.00 for another brand. The both included a pump with them so basically there was no frills for the higher priced body ball.

My Thoughts on Athletic Works 65 cm Body Ball

While the 65 cm body ball is rated for most people 5'4 and above, I found that this size was just a bit too high for me to do ab work on. All other exercises work just fine, but I can't keep my feet on the floor for doing ab work like crunches. Another thing I couldn't do with this size was push-ups. Once my hands touched the floor there was no room to lift my body with.

I was disappointed that there was no guide on the box as to what size to purchase for your height. I have since learned that other brands do make recommendations as to the size of body ball you need for your height. Most recommend the 65 cm for people 5'4" and taller and the 55 cm body ball for those 5'3" and shorter. I'm 5'4" but have short legs, and probably the reason the smaller body ball worked best for me. I just wanted you to be aware of this before you buy a body ball.

I was really surprised at the amount of exercises that you can do with a body ball. Athletic Works 65 cm Body Ball is durable and very much worth the price of $10.00 for toning and firming up your body. It is a different kind of exercise workout and a great change of pace. I have since purchased a DVD to get a variety of exercises to do with my body ball. I have also picked up the smaller 55 cm body ball to do ab work with. Overall, this is a well constructed body ball and I highly recommend it over paying twice as much for a "designer" body ball. Athletic Works 65 cm Body Ball gets a high approval rating!