Staying on top of a lifetime of skiing injuries is tricky, especially in the autumn vortex between summer sports and skiing. Enter the Fitball.
retail: $29.95
www.fitter1.com
One rolled into the office last fall and is now part of our everyday routine. The Fitball offers an excellent base from which to do nearly every common callisthenic. It's just more entertaining. We've found crunches and sit-ups are low impact, but offer more resistance due to the dynamics of the ball. With every routine the adjustment needed to maintain posture and balance creates a powerful workout for the body's core.
Stretching the lower back and hamstrings is especially easy on the ball, allowing it to support deep back bends. We've found opposite arm, opposite leg lifts with the belly on the ball are great for the lower back. Bridging, with legs on the ball and pelvis lifted from the floor, is another great one for the quads, abs and general balance. Whether you're outside and active all day, or an office monkey, the Fitball will help workout the kinks. It might be the best $30 you can spend on skiing this year.
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