Neat/crazy thing I saw a guy doing in the gym and want to try

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  Nov 16, 2010 9:31 PM GMT

  I was stretching the other day and saw a guy in the open area where the PT's work with clients. He was STANDING on a medicine ball and doing various raises with kettle balls.
  
  I was like Crazy!...... I wanna do that!
  
  So I talked to him and he said it's not that hard (maybe for him!) but that I should start out by kneeling on the stability ball. It is (according to him) a great way to develop your core and at the same time improve your balance.
  
  I already use the ball as a bench for dumbbell press for the same reason... makes it a lot more challenging and helped me break a plateau... after doing 70#'s on the ball, the bench felt steady as a battleship and now I can do it with 100#'s.
  
  I also do decline push-ups with my feet on the ball, and incline pushups squeezing it between my hands.
  
  Anybody else know any good exercises for balance?

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  Nov 16, 2010 10:42 PM GMT

  Funny you'd mention that. Just this week I started standing on the exercise ball to do assisted pullups so I can get more out of my workout. Can't balance on it yet, but that'll be my next challenge.

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• berimbolo
  
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  Nov 17, 2010 1:35 AM GMT

  Standing on a stability ball is great if you're in a circus.
  
  Otherwise, it's an unnecessary risk for heavy injury with negligible benefit.

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  Nov 17, 2010 1:40 AM GMT

  bryanc_74 saidStanding on a stability ball is great if you're in a circus.

  
  
  OH no you di-int!
  
  I figured that would come up... but if the ball rolls out of place, and you're using heavy weights- those things will really fuck up your face.
  
  Beware of earthquakes. Or stompers.

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  Nov 17, 2010 1:43 AM GMT

  Yea i would not be dancing around on a stability ball with 50-pound dumbbells trust me (and we do this on a thick mat with nothing around for 10' in any direction).
  
  But I learned firsthand about the benefits of training in an unstable environment.
  
  And it's funny you say that b/c my joke to my training buddy was that if I get laid off I could always get a job as a circus poodle!

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  Nov 17, 2010 2:22 AM GMT

  Take up skateboarding. It's the best balance exercise out there.

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  Nov 17, 2010 4:27 AM GMT

  I stretch out in a crowded, small stretch area where a trainer who seems to have carte blanche to monopolize that area has his clients balance and squat with dumbells on a BOSU ball mere feet from my head and it FREAKS ME OUT.

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• berimbolo
  
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  Nov 17, 2010 10:29 AM GMT

  njmeanwhile saidYea i would not be dancing around on a stability ball with 50-pound dumbbells trust me (and we do this on a thick mat with nothing around for 10' in any direction).
  
  But I learned firsthand about the benefits of training in an unstable environment.
  
  And it's funny you say that b/c my joke to my training buddy was that if I get laid off I could always get a job as a circus poodle!

  
  
  There's "practical unstable" and then there's "foolish unstable". You will never (unless you're a bear in the circus, or a guy in a tiny row boat) need to perform motions on such unstable platforms, and even if the platform is unstable, it's not generally stationary (much like surfing or skateboarding). The translation of stability ball standing is tiny.
  
  I remember the 'standing on a ball' days when it was all the rage. I actually used to do it myself (and squatted with light weight). It's a cool party trick...

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  Nov 20, 2010 5:50 PM GMT

  There's a movie about this called Dumb and Dumber.
  
  While unbalanced exercise has a place, what your guy was doing is idiotic. It's a safety hazard for him, and those around him.
  
  Remember: Just because Johnny is a moron, it doesn't mean that you need to be, too.

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• kew1
  
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  Nov 20, 2010 5:57 PM GMT

  http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23890458-exploding-ball-at-virgin-gym-breaks-ribs-of-weightlifter.do
  
  

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  Nov 20, 2010 5:59 PM GMT

  I've seen this guy do handstand pushups while on a Bosu ball. I'm kind of jealous but I'm not sure it's anything I want to try any time soon.

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