Why Sitting on a Ball is Good for You

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by: tabitha1342cruise
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Word Count: 637
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 Time: 12:35 AM
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I have worked in New York city for years, and recently, I started to notice this strange phenomenon where some executives started sitting on a gym ball, instead of using their regular chairs. You have to admit it's a bit beyond hilarious but after checking it out on the web, it turns out it's a good thing for you.

Whether you spend your desk time at the office, or studying at home for that next exam, office ball chairs can help you in many ways. Check out these benefits of sitting on a gym ball instead of your old boring regular chair.

1. Forces proper spine alignment. This is because you are sitting on a ball that is not stable, hence you need to balance yourself. The perfect spinal posture is coincidentally the easiest to balance with. Thus, your body will automatically try to align itself into the proper posture. The end result is better spinal health and less back pains.

2. Since you are sitting on ball, you tend to change positions more often. This is because you are always trying to balance yourself. For example, if you turn to face the phone, your body will assume a new position. This helps reduce damage caused by prolonged sitting in the same position.

3. Fitness is at your fingertips. A great thing about using this alternative to a chair, is that you can do stretches or mini-workouts whenever you want, without getting up. If you are ever stuck waiting for a minute or two, you can make productive use of that time with a quick workout or stretch. Since its convenient, you will find yourself doing it more frequently, which will work wonders for your health.

4. Improve your balance. This one is very understandable. Sitting on an unstable surface all day will improve your sense of balance, as well as the reactions of your muscles. You can feel results right away in terms of having a much better overall sense of balance as you move around.

5. Improve those abs! Your body primarily uses your core abdominal muscles to help compensate for changes in balance. Thus, you are essentially getting a low-key abdominal workout. This may not sound like a lot, but consider the amount of time you spend on your computer at the office, or at home. These hours pile up and before you know it, you start developing that 6-pack abs.

6. Improves your circulation. Using an exercise ball will keep the blood flowing to all parts of your body, throughout the day. A regular chair works exactly the opposite, constricting circulation, especially after you have been sitting for hours.

7. You start feeling that energy boost. It has been proven that staying in one position, will make you more tired, while moving around and being active with give you more energy. With an exercise ball as a chair, you will feel much more energized after you finish your work.

8. Burn up hundreds of calories per day. More movement during the day means more calories burnt. If you burn at least 350 calories per day, you can lose at least a pound of fat every couple of weeks. You may not burn quite 350, but nonetheless, it will help you stay fit.

9. Extremely affordable. Specialized exercise balls designed for sitting usage can range from $20 to $90. Much cheaper than buying an ergonomic chair, which can range anywhere from $100 to $400 and up.

10. It's really a lot of fun! Everyone is a kid at heart when you think about it, so look at it as feeding your inner child as you bounce around all day. Exercise balls are an exciting alternative to chairs, and may just give that spark of fun to your day.

About the Author

Tabi is a bored retiree who is also into internet marketing, promoting a really varied collection of web sites. If you are looking for a place with the best selection and pricing in jogging strollers or if you are looking for the latest toy transformers for the kids, come and visit her sites.