Despite its awesomeness, the ball is also the one piece of equipment that gets the most dubious looks from my clients. "You want me to sit on that while I lift weights?" is a question I hear frequently. Yes, dear client, and that's only the beginning.
When I get that you-must-be-crazy look, I know it'll be tough going, so I start with easier moves to get people a little more comfortable using a big, squishy ball during their workouts. This ball walk is a great choice, not just for beginners, but for anyone who wants a simple, yet effective, core exercise. Walking your feet out in and while rolling on the ball helps you get used to the instability and, if you do a few reps, you'll notice your abs get a great workout.
It helps to do this move next to a wall the first time around, especially if you don't have great traction on the floor. Slippery feet can cause falling, swearing and, possibly, the firing of trainers.
For this exercise, you sit on the ball and slowly walk all the feet all the way out until you're in a tabletop position. Then you walk back up and do it again for 1-3 sets of 10-15 reps.
