Pilates ball recommendations?

I'm stuck in a dorm right now, and space is pretty tight. I was thinking about using an exercise ball as a seat—since I wouldn't really know what to do with a regular chair anyway—but honestly, I don't even have enough room to actually work out with it.

I just measured my desk—it's sitting at about 28 or 29 inches. On top of that, my monitor is a bit lower, maybe around 25 inches. The top edge of the screen actually sits below my chin when I’m sitting normally. I don't really have any way to change it right now, though.

As for working out, I’m planning on hitting the pool once the outdoor community pool opens up. Honestly, being in an indoor pool makes me feel nauseous almost immediately. Until then... I'm not really sure what to do. I'm open to suggestions, though I should probably mention I'm living in a tiny 8x12 room that's basically just two desks and two beds crammed together.

You really need to raise that desk height. Sitting like that is basically like me trying to work at a toddler's play table for several hours a day!
Maybe try propping up the legs with some old books you don't use anymore, or I guess you could even just grab a couple of bricks to stack underneath.
(If Angela can manage it, maybe you can too)
If you're stuck with just a standard chair, it might actually be better to grab a Pilates ball, since your desk is so low—it looks like your knees are practically level with your chest when you sit down.
Otherwise, you might just wreck your spine before you even hit thirty.

cosmicpanther41 said:You really need to raise that desk. Maybe try wedging some old books you don't use anymore under the legs—or just grab a couple of bricks if you can find them. (If Angela can manage it, maybe you can too.)
If you're working with a basic cheap chair, honestly, you might be better off getting a stability ball because your desk is probably way too low. I bet your knees are basically level with your chest when you sit down.
Otherwise, you’re going to wreck your spine before you even hit thirty.

I guess I agree with what cosmicpanther41 is saying, especially the part about Angela being able to help out. Though, I suspect books might be a bit sketchy since they aren't exactly stable. Bricks would probably be a safer bet.

Since we're talking about spinal health here, the best move would probably be buying some metal legs at the right height—again, if Angela can handle it—and attaching them to the existing desk.
(It'll look just as ugly as having books shoved under the table anyway), or you could head over to Home Depot or IKEA or somewhere similar to pick up a decent slab of wood to mount on those legs. You could even fit a stability ball under a setup like that.

Considering how small college dorm rooms are and how thin a student's wallet usually is, I suppose it isn't completely impossible.

Hmm, let me think... I've been playing around with some ideas, and I guess raising the desk by maybe seven or eight cm would be the sweet spot. Anything more than that feels like overkill.

As for those exercise balls, they don't look like they'll break the bank. I saw a Reebok one on Amazon for about 20 bucks. I think it comes with a pump and some DVD or something.

Where's the best place to grab one? Or honestly, where can I buy one without worrying if it's actually decent quality? I'd kind of like to trust it won't just pop right under me. 🙂

P.S. I'm totally lost on whatever was going down with Angela. Did I miss something?

You didn't miss a thing!
Angela Marić, that former pageant queen turned singer who used to host shows on NBC, sometimes tries her hand at interior design. I guess she might just stack a couple of bricks on the floor and throw a plank on top, and suddenly—poof!—she’s calling it a workspace.

As for the balls, everything you need to know about where to buy them and which shops to hit up has already been covered...