Pilates ball recommendations?

Michael Jones23 said:They have them at Walmart or Target, but they probably aren't as high quality. Does anyone know where to find cheaper ones? And what’s actually the difference between those and the expensive ones you find at specialty stores?

I actually picked one up at Target for $27 a few weeks ago. The price really just depends on the size. From what I've heard from my physical therapist, there isn't a massive difference in performance. The $233 one is basically the same as the $70 version. Still... there's that old saying, "you get what you pay for." 🙂 I'm not sure. These are just exercise balls. I'd never pay full price for one $233. I got mine as a birthday gift, so I feel bad asking about the cost, but I doubt it was anything crazy.

Sarah Morales5 said:I was over at Target a $27 weeks ago. Price basically just depends on how big they are. From what I've heard from my physical therapist, there isn't much of a difference anyway. That one from $233 is pretty much the same as the $70 ones. But then again... you know that old saying, "you get what you pay for," 🙂 who knows. They're just exercise balls. I wouldn't personally drop that kind of cash on this specific ball $233. I got mine for my birthday, so I feel bad even asking what it cost, but I highly doubt it was anything crazy

If I only knew where they were selling them cheap...

Man, this ball is just for $233, I mean, what on earth is this thing even doing 🙄 😁

Michael Fox46 said:I might just grab a ball in five months once I get my paycheck.🙄 😁

But how exactly are you supposed to buy one of those things? Are we talking about size or weight?🤔 😁

The weight of your wallet.😁

Alexander Diaz8 said:weight - wallet 😁

plus Nashville... honestly, they just don't have anything quite like what I'm looking for 😁 😁

Michael Fox46 said:forget it, there's nothing out there that fits my needs.😁 😁

Just kidding... honestly, I haven't a clue. People just listed random price ranges, but they really ought to be pricing these based on the body weight of whoever's actually using them (not including bone weight 😬).

Casey Palmer5 said:My ball handles up to 660 lbs. You can do whatever you want with it. Even if it fails, it won't be sudden; it’ll just start losing air gradually.

One Pilates ball actually gave out under my friend's weight... she's about 140-150...

😂 The ball popped. 😂

Do I even really know this friend of mine?😁 😁 😁
Clean out your inbox....

Michael Fox46 said:Man, this thing is useless for $233. I have no idea what this machine is even trying to 🙄 in 😁

It probably does all the heavy lifting for us. We just need to sit on it and call it a day. 🙂 😁

Alexander Diaz8 said:just kidding... honestly, I haven't a clue. People just threw out a price range, but really, it should probably be based on the user's actual body weight—you know, the net weight without any bones 😬 included

😁 😁 😁

I actually heard it’s calculated by weight too (but including the bones 😬 this time)

For those of you who actually spend your day on one, what’s the experience been like? How many hours a day are you sitting there? I’m thinking about picking one up for my office setup, but honestly, I have no idea how I’d manage to survive eight hours straight on that thing. 😕

hm... I don't spend 8 hours a day on it, so I can't say for sure. When I get tired of sitting there, I just head back to my desk. 😁 It feels a bit awkward at first, but you get used to it. It’s actually pretty fun, though. Plus, it's nice to stretch out a bit when you need a break from working.

I’m glued to my computer for hours every single day. Honestly, saying I spend ten or twelve hours at the desk probably isn't even an exaggeration. On top of that, my chair is way too high, so I think I'm slowly developing some kind of hunchback. A ball seems like a decent idea, but I don't know if I could actually handle sitting on one for that long without any back support...

...but maybe I could give it a shot.

If you aren't sitting correctly on a stability ball—meaning your back isn't straight—your balance is going to take a hit. I’ve definitely noticed that myself. That’s why finding the right size for your height is so important.

Kate Anderson83 said:So, what’s the actual experience like for those of you who use one? How many hours a day are you sitting on it? I’m thinking about picking one up for the office, but honestly, I have no clue how I’d survive an eight-hour shift on that thing.😕

You definitely shouldn't be on a stability ball for that long—like, eight hours straight? No way. I saw this segment on NBC where an expert was explaining that it’s not a good idea to spend your whole workday on one. The consensus seems to be that it's better to switch things up... use the ball for a bit, then swap back to a regular chair.

You can totally sit on an exercise ball for 8 hours straight without any issues—honestly, it’s way better for you than a standard office chair.

I’ve been using one myself lately, and I’ve found it so much more comfortable... my back doesn't feel nearly as tired at the end of the day.

Casey Palmer5 said:You can totally sit on an exercise ball for 8 hours straight without any issues. Honestly, it’s way better for you than a regular chair.

I’ve been using one myself, and it feels way more comfortable. My lower back doesn't feel nearly as trashed.

I mean, sure, you could.......

but doing that constantly? Like, day after day, month after month, year after year? I really don't think so...
I remember some lady—an expert, or at least someone who knew what she was talking about—saying that. Now, was she a physical therapist or just some clerk at an orthopedic supply shop? Maybe she had medical training or was a PT, I can't quite recall. All I know is that one of them definitely wouldn't recommend sitting there for 8 hours straight without a break.

I’m telling you, it definitely works. As a physical therapist myself, I see it all the time.

Honestly, using a stability ball is way better for you than just slouching in a chair. It forces you to engage your core muscles, so you aren't putting all that heavy pressure right on your lower spine like you do when you're just lounging in a seat.

But let's be real—sitting for eight hours straight isn't great no matter what you're sitting on. You really need to get up and stretch every once in a while...🙂

Casey Palmer5 said:I’m telling you, it works. And hey, I’m also a physical therapist.

But I said physiatrist, or maybe just a PT... honestly, whatever.

Casey Palmer5 said:Actually, it's way better than sitting in a chair because the ball forces you to engage your core, so all that weight isn't just crushing your spine like when you're slumped over in a seat.

In reality, though, sitting for eight hours straight is bad news regardless of what you're sitting on. You gotta get up and move around every once in a while. 🙂

Anyway, next time I catch up with my sister—she’s a physiatrist—I’ll just ask her directly. She’d probably be the expert here..

Douglas Mitchell said:Where can I actually find one of those Pilates balls?

A friend of mine picked one up at a shop in downtown Chicago, right across from the big cathedral—it's one of those spots that sells bikes and gear. She paid $40I think
you can probably grab one at that same shop too.
The only real hassle is you have to inflate it yourself, so maybe hit up a gas station for that.

Anyway, has anyone checked out that Pilates DVD?
A friend mentioned she only skimmed through it, but she felt like it wasn't even a solid workout plan—more like the woman was just using it to advertise her own Pilates studio.