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Quite a different ball game
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Gym ball workout is new in the city and a perfect indoor exercise during the monsoon
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IN SHIPSHAPE Gym ball trainning helps strengthen abdominal and back muscles Photo: Vipinchandran
Kochiites can now revel in a new kind of indoor fitness regimen as rains play spoilsport and bring outdoor exercising to a stop.
`Gym ball training or ball exercise' at Physique Centre, Girinagar where this new exercise with a ball is done is the first of its kind in the city. "The aerobic studio can accommodate 45 persons at a time and we exercise with balls on the wooden floor," says Bindu Prakash, a trained Reebok fitness instructor specialising in gym ball training. An element of instability is introduced to exercising when done with a ball. This is not there in a floor exercise. The body responds naturally and automatically to this instability to remain balanced on the exercise ball. Over time, the muscles used in balancing, on the ball, become stronger.
Relieves backache
The main back and abdominal muscles thus build in strength. Backache, the bane of a modern life style can be prevented to a great extent by this exercise. Biji Narayan, working out at the aerobic studio for the last three years claims injury free gym ball exercising. She feels that the ball exercise is fun and there is novelty in it. She also feels that the burnout is the same as with other workouts and that there is no back injury.
The exercise ball made out of vinyl, plastic or solid foam rubber is inflatable. As it is inflatable it can be punctured and so it's important to avoid wearing anything sharp (jewellery, belt buckle) while using the ball. Plastic balls spoil on exposure to harsh heat or sunlight. The ball sizes differ as per individual height and weight.
Brinda Rajiv, a regular visitor to this health club says, "the facilities here are good . The instructor keeps updating us on the latest exercise methods. In fact each aerobic class is different and grows in intensity."
Diet counselling and healthy weight loss programmes can also be availed of at this fitness centre. Besides the aerobic studio, a badminton court, steam bath, weight-training classes with a wide range of exercise equipment are also available here.
Both male and female personal trainers are there during the working hours. So dreaming of a healthy lifestyle is not enough but embarking on one is the way forward.
Regular exercise gives one a healthy lifestyle and this new gym ball training is one such easy and interesting fitness regimen that will help you ship shape.
MUMTAZ KHALID ISMAIL
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