Pilates and the “Swiss” Exercise Ball

by Melissa Noble

Many people think the exercise ball is part of the pilates equipment but the exercise ball was invented in 1963 by Italian engineer Aquilino Cosani as a toy called Gymnastik.

Several doctors from England and Germany began using the ball for stroke victims and children with neurological problems and then Swiss Physical Therapist Dr Susan Klein-Vogelbach incorporated it into her rehabilitation for lower back and postural re-education.

In the 1980’s several American Physical Therapists took the workshop from Dr Klein and brought back the ball and the rehabilitation exercises and named it “Swiss Ball”.

In the 1990’s, the fitness industry started using the ball for strengthening and balance work during workouts.

There’s no doubt the ball is a great piece of equipment that anyone can have due to it’s relatively small size and price. But just as some people think the ball is pilates equipment, many think doing exercises on the ball is “core” work.

You can do exercises on the ball and just like anything else, not be using your core. So when using your ball at home, remember your first pilates lesson and always engage your core before you begin any exercise. There are lots of great pilates exercises that can be adapted to the ball and there’s lots that can be done on the ball that is not pilates but very valuable.

STOTT PILATES® has some great ball DVD’s for purchase at Bodycenter Studios. There is also a website with free ball exercises with illustrations at http://seek4fitness.net/. There’s an interesting book that covers pilates and yoga on the ball called “101 Ways to Work Out on the Ball” by Liz Gillies. If you don’t have a ball at home, it’s a great tool to challenge your pilates mat exercises but it’s also great to sit on while at the computer!