Introduction
Sitting on a yoga ball can be a great way to add variety to your office chair. A yoga ball, also known as an exercise ball, Swissball, and birth ball, has been used for over two centuries for the purposes of strength training, balance training and pregnancy related support. It is made of flexible vinyl and filled with air which gives it its “bouncy” feel. The idea behind using a yoga ball as a seat is that sitting on it engages the core of your body so you gain improved posture, abdominal muscle definition and all-day comfort.
Apart from the obvious benefits of improved core strength and stability, sitting on a yoga ball in place of an uncomfortable office chair can also help burn calories by forcing you to use your muscles constantly throughout the day in order to maintain balance. Because the shape of the yoga ball keeps shifting underneath you, your body needs to adjust itself constantly by engaging different muscle groups each time it moves. This action forces these same muscles to engage up to twice as often compared to when seated at an ordinary desk chair and therefore burns more calories while providing valuable strengthening exercise as well.
The combination of comfort and calorie burning properties makes sitting on a yoga ball an attractive alternative to traditional chairs when working at home or in an office environment in order to give yourself room for movement while working and benefit from having one’s full range of motion available during work hours that would otherwise not be available using regular furniture seating solutions.
Benefits of Using a Yoga Ball When Sitting
Using a yoga ball when sitting can burn more calories than a regular chair due to the additional activity involved. People can benefit from increased core strength, improved posture, and an elevated metabolism by replacing their traditional chair with a yoga ball.
Due to the increased effort needed to maintain balance and alignment on the round surface of a yoga ball, slight contractions of muscles in the core must occur as opposed to sitting in a traditional chair. In turn, this tiny additional activity helps generate caloric expenditure over time while improving posture. Furthermore, this small boost in physical activity can help bolster metabolic rate, leading to even more fat and calories burned throughout the day.
Finally, since the body seeks to achieve balance when on a yoga ball at all times, those sitting have no choice but to improve their posture. It is well known that good posture strengthens core muscles, improves breathing capacity and even increases confidence. By incorporating good ergonomics while seated – such as keeping shoulders down and neck straight – people can build stronger muscles around the spine which will help correct imbalances and improve mobility.
Potential Drawbacks of Using a Yoga Ball When Sitting
Sitting on a yoga ball instead of a traditional chair to work or study can help increase your balance and flexibility, but it may not be ideal for everyone. Potential drawbacks include discomfort, the lack of back support, and the lack of stability associated with using a yoga ball while sitting. Your body is designed to sit in ergonomic comfort and having an unstable base that causes you to need to constantly make micro-adjustments can be exhausting and painful. Additionally, the round shape of the yoga ball means there is no lumbar back support like a chair usually provides, which may lead to lower back pain. Lastly, when sitting on a yoga ball you are much less stable than when sitting on a flat surface due to its light-weight construction, so prolonged periods of use can cause dizziness and fatigue as your body tries to adjust itself for balance.
Metabolism and the Benefits of Moving Around
Sitting on a yoga ball can help promote an increase in metabolism through producing hormones such as epinephrine. Epinephrine is known as a key player in increasing metabolism, and is also referred to as adrenaline. Movement of the body triggers this hormone which then jumps starts cellular energy and blood flow for body tissues. Moving around helps to maintain good posture, strengthen core muscles and improves balance. When we are upright, rather than sedentary or slouching, our digestive system works at maximum efficiency while the nervous system calms down since it receives more oxygen due to increased lung capacity. Sitting on a yoga ball activates the body’s postural muscles, therefore allowing these hormones to be released into our brain and body tissue more easily. As a result of improved oxygenation and circulation caused by movement on the ball, cells become energized and they start breaking down fatty acids faster. Additionally, mindful breathing exercises while sitting on the ball could be beneficial in calming the mind while releasing tension from your body. This can help reduce stress levels which has been linked with weight-gain or impede weight-loss goals.
Guidance on Safe Usage of a Yoga Ball
When using a yoga ball, it is important to maintain an adequate amount of space for equal balance and stability. It’s best to maintain alignment with the body’s center of gravity when sitting on the ball. To do this properly, the user should sit as close as possible to the center point of the ball and ensure their feet are firmly planted within a shoulder-width apart standing stance. The user should try to keep their spine in a neutral position, both vertically and horizontally. This means that whether looking straight ahead or looking up, one should attempt to maintain a straight line from neck to toes.
Anchoring your body during sitting on a yoga ball is key for improved stability; be sure not to sway or rock too far in any given direction, as this could cause an imbalance that could result in an injury or strain. Keeping your feet firmly planted can help you stay grounded and centered throughout use. Gripping the sides of the ball also adds friction between your hands and skin that helps eases movements while working out.
It is also important to pay attention to safety considerations when working out on a yoga ball – move slowly and carefully when transitioning from standing positions onto the ball, begin by leaning slightly into your arms rather than relying completely on balancing primarily on the balls of your feet open first keeping them spread back after landing safely in a seated position if performed correctly, frequently utilizing a yoga ball can potentially burn calories due its slightly unstable nature which will require increased energy output while performing activities such as side-to-side leg lifts or crunches while atop the exercise tool.
Summary of the Post
This post discusses whether or not sitting on a yoga ball burns calories. In general, the amount of calories burned from sitting on a yoga ball is small compared to some other types of exercise and physical activity. To burn more calories from a yoga ball, one may do exercises that involve balancing and resistance, such as wall squats holding onto the ball or upper body strength training with the yoga ball. Additionally, exercises like crunches, situps and bicycle twists can also be done on top of the ball for an extra challenge. All these exercises focusing upon balance and posture will help to increase calorie expenditure to help reach one’s goals.
I am passionate about yoga and this is my blog. I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years and teaching for 5. Yoga has transformed my life in so many ways and I love being able to share that with others. My hope is that through this blog, I can help people learn more about yoga, connect with other yogis, and find inspiration to live a healthier, happier life.
