Natural Fitness is a company that takes conservation very seriously. Their products are made of natural, sustainable and recycled materials. The yoga mats are made from natural rubber; yoga blocks from cork and bamboo; yoga straps and mat bags from hemp; and the handles on their rubber resistance tubes are made from recycled plastic. The packaging for every product is made from recycled paper.  In addition, they have initiated the Zero Impact Program - for every Natural Fitness product sold, in some area of the planet a tree is planted where it’s most needed to help moderate the climate, improve air quality, conserve water and harbor wildlife. Past projects have included areas of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Even the Natural Fitness website is “green” — it’s completely powered by solar energy.

One of my favorite products made by Natural Fitness is the exercise ball.  They have two grades – one designed for use with most exercise programs that is burst resistant to 300 lbs, and one that is designed to withstand the most rigorous exercise regimens that is burst resistant to 600 lbs.

Natural Fitness exercise balls have slightly textured surfaces that provide grip and keep you from sliding. Most PVC products utilize plasticizers that contain phthalates to make the material soft and flexible. but phthalates have been proven to be harmful to the environment and pose health risks to humans.  Natural Fitness developed a non-toxic, phthalate-free plasticizer for its vinyl products. This makes the ball somewhat stiff at first, which is probably why the instructions say to inflate it to 80% of its recommended size, let it sit for 24 hours and then fill to its full volume. This gives the vinyl time to “rest” before inflating fully.

I found the included “fast pump” easy to use until I got to the last few centimeters. Then it seemed as if air was escaping through the pump every time I pulled the handle up. So I hauled out my handy-dandy rechargeable air compressor (that I keep in my car for emergencies) and finished filling the ball that way. I probably should have just used it from the start, but I wanted to test the hand pump.  A plug kit is included in the box, so you can use whatever method you want to inflate the ball. Just be careful not to over inflate it.

The textured surface isn’t sticky – animal hair and dirt don’t cling to the vinyl.  I noticed a bit of a smell at first, but it wasn’t offensive and does fade.

The Natural Fitness Exercise Ball comes with a DVD that includes a warm-up, workout and cool-down, with two workout levels – beginner and intermediate. An exercise chart is also included in the kit, along with the pump and plug kit, as mentioned earlier.

When shopping for your exercise ball, be sure to choose by size, not by color. If you’re 6’ tall and you choose the 55cm ball because you like its plum color, you’re going to be very disappointed when you sit on it and your knees are level with your chin!!  Generally, the 45cm ball is for heights 4’7” to 5’; 55cm for heights 5’1” – 5’7”; 65cm for heights 5’8” – 6’1”; and 75cm for heights 6’2” and over. When you sit on your ball, your knees should bend at a 90 degree angle.  If you have extremely long legs and are short-waisted, you may want to go up a size; if your legs are short and waist long, you may want to go down a size.

You can accomplish so much with an exercise ball – increase your core strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance and coordination; and it can be incorporated into any yoga, Pilates or strength-training routine.  Use your ball as a chair, and you can work your abs and burn a few extra calories while watching television or working at your desk. And remember, by purchasing the Natural Fitness exercise ball, you get to help the planet by planting a tree!

Have you noticed a new trend recently regarding the stability ball?  These wonderful fitness tools aren’t just being used in the gym — they’re now being used in offices and schools as replacements for standard chairs.

Grammar school teachers have been providing them for their classes. Because the students must frequently change positions to maintain balance, teachers find that they have improved alertness and concentration.  Experts say that the brain is stimulated by the use of the core muscles as the kids shift positions on the balls, causing them to be more focused.

Adults are also getting into the balancing act at the office.  Many have replaced their desk chairs with these exercise balls, getting a workout while at work.  In an article in courier-journal.com, Indiana University’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation kinesiology lecturer Kelly Jo Baute states that while sitting on a stability ball, the body is allowed to move more freely than when sitting in an office chair, which provides an opportunity to strengthen the postural muscles.  Additionally, the quadriceps and hamstring muscles are activated by working to keep the ball from rolling around.

According to Chard Garvey, a physical therapist with the Jeffersontown office of KORT (Kentucky Orthopedic Rehab Team), “bodies like movement.  The more people tend to move, as a general rule, the better they tend to feel versus sitting in a chair that you don’t have to use a lot of musculature to support yourself.”  (Carter, Darla. “Stability balls get a workout subbing as office desk chairs.” courier-journal.com • December 10, 2009)

If you‘re thinking about replacing your desk chair with a stability ball, make the change gradually over time.  Baute recommends an approach of about 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.  And you may have to build up to that.  Also, be aware of your posture.  Because there is no back support, you may tire and begin to slouch.

Stability balls are known by many names, i.e. exercise ball, fitness ball, gym ball, yoga ball, Pilates ball and Swiss ball. They come in several sizes, so be sure to choose the size that allows your hips and knees to be at a 90 degree angle when your feet are on the floor.  (Don’t choose by color — they’re color-coded by size.)  Generally, if you are 4’11” to 5’4”, choose a 55 cm ball; 5’5” – 5’11”, choose a 65 cm ball; and over 6’, choose a 75 cm ball.  Also, be sure the ball you choose is burst resistant and is fully inflated so that it is firm.  If you have back problems, check with your doctor before attempting to make the switch.  And be careful … you could fall off!

If you’re in the market for a high quality stability ball, consider the Natural Fitness Burst Resistant Exercise Ball.  It provides a firm, comfortable surface, is burst resistant to 600 lbs. and is made of non-toxic, phthalate free, latex free composite vinyl.  Natural Fitness plants a tree for every one of its products sold. Their Zero Impact Program funds this important reforestation program in areas of the world most needing the benefits of agroforestry and with tree species chosen for the greatest impact to the local ecology and people.