Hard core workout {video}

How’s your day going? Ours has been relaxing and lovely. Livi slept until 9am! I was dressed and waiting for her to wake up, and she snoozed away. I almost went to wake her up, but remembered the wise advice to never wake a sleeping baby. 😉 So I made us both some pancakes for us to enjoy when sleeping beauty was ready to start the day. We ran a couple of errands, grabbed a green juice and then came home to play outside– it’s been absolutely gorgeous lately!

During nap time, I decided to get in a little strength workout here at the house since we have most of the tools that I love. I did a round of kettlebell swings, pull-ups, arm work, lunges and a core blitz.

Today I thought I’d share one of my favorite core workouts, using something that many people have at home, too: the physioball.

Stability ball

I love this workout tool, especially since it doubles as an awesome chair when you’re pregnant and gently bouncing to soothe your newborn. (I “rocked” Livi to sleep many times while bouncing on the physioball.) It also makes a fantastic desk chair, and is something I like to use when I’m at the computer for a while.

A great benefit of the physioball is the fact that it provides instability for basic strength training moves, causing you to utilize the small stabilizing muscles in your core. It’s a fantastic way to add an extra challenge to your routine, especially since many moves can be performed on or using the stability ball. Keeping a strong core is critical, not only because it helps us to move functionally through everyday activities (bending over, rotating, walking!), but can also help improve posture and prevent back ailments.

Here’s a little core workout I put together:

Stability ball workout

and a video, for those who would like to work out with me! 🙂

 

If you give it a whirl, please let me know what you think. If you haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channels (mine, and our Sage channel) please do if you’d like some new weekly workouts. I actually haven’t been a slacker on my channel lately- lots of new stuff!!- and Sasha and I have been hard at work creating new videos for our Sage channel. They should be ready next week!

Hope you’re having an amazing day!

What’s your favorite core exercise?

Some more ball-er workouts:

Ball blitz

Focus on: the stability ball

20 of my favorite stability ball exercises

Jump and burn workout

See you in the morning <3

xoxo

Gina

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36 Comments

  1. Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs on November 4, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    Looks tough! Can’t wait to give it a go tomorrow!

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 11:01 pm

      let me know how it goes!

  2. Nikki @ will run for pizza on November 4, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    I wish I could motivate myself do a good workout at home! I’ve thought about taking a ball to work to sit on all day since I have a desk job but I’m afraid it will get stolen!

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 11:01 pm

      awww that would be such a bummer! i’d put my name on it

  3. Britt on November 4, 2013 at 9:07 pm

    I really love how you filmed this right in your house and not at the gym. I feel like it has a more relaxed flow to it since it is at your house and i know it will defiantly make me feel more like I am right there with you doing it from my house. BTW I LOVE the picture display in the back. I know you wrote a post on it when you first did it but I was wondering if you update it at all with newer pictures of Livi and of you and Tom. Thanks for the vid! Can’t wait to do it tomorrow before class!

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 11:00 pm

      i haven’t updated it -a couple italy pics- but decided not to do much more until we move.
      let me know how you like the video! 🙂
      xo

  4. Kelly @ Femme Fitale on November 4, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    I’m the worst for at-home workouts! Even though I have some equipment here, I always work a thousand times harder and more efficiently in a gym or group fitness setting. Definitely psychological.
    After having a string of 4 and 5am wake up calls with my 8.5 month old, I’m a little jealous of your amazing sleeper! I’m sure you’ve been through your fair share of early mornings already, though. 🙂

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 11:00 pm

      friend, there was a time when i thought i’d never sleep again. hang in there!

  5. Jay Scott on November 4, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    I love the physioball too, I use it with clients pretty regularly. I’m a big fan of workouts at home as well. The workout you put together looks great!

    Jay

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 10:59 pm

      thanks! hope you have a great night 🙂

  6. Livi on November 4, 2013 at 10:15 pm

    I love pushing my plank times!

    • Captain Comptition on November 4, 2013 at 10:22 pm

      Planks are my choice of core workouts too. Got my time up toe 4 minutes not too long ago.

      • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 10:39 pm

        i once had a plank contest with a boss, and made it 6 minutes. have not done it since haha

  7. Deia on November 4, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    Great workouts. I can’t wait to try these! Since I have a diastasis I’m trying to repair I don’t have any favorite ab exercises right now besides elevators and belly scoops but I do wear a splint during my workouts. I think I’m ready to get back to using the physioball though.

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 10:40 pm

      hope it heals quickly for you!

  8. FitBritt@MyOwnBalance on November 4, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    I love the physioball. It always tricks me into thinking it’s going to be a fun ab workout and then I realize it was just a trick!

    • Fitnessista on November 4, 2013 at 10:39 pm

      it looks so nice, but can be so mean 😉

  9. Casey on November 5, 2013 at 12:43 am

    Definitely trying this tomorrow! I have a super busy day and was thinking I wouldn’t have time for any core exercises besides lifting my chubster dogs into the car! And that takes A LOT of core strength! Thanks!!

  10. Lucie on November 5, 2013 at 2:25 am

    I love the physioball! It’s so challenging.
    I love to do core exercises with the TRX. They are killer – and I made the most progress with them!

  11. Jas on November 5, 2013 at 4:33 am

    This looks amazing! I wish I could do it but have a knee injury at the moment. Is there a way to modify it? Maybe skip out the squats? Looks fantastic though.

  12. Sara @ LovingOnTheRun on November 5, 2013 at 7:09 am

    Oh I love my stability ball! This looks great and I can’t wait to try it when I get home!

  13. Fit Missy on November 5, 2013 at 8:19 am

    Awesome workout!

  14. Liesl on November 5, 2013 at 10:37 am

    Gina, looks like a great workout. I love doing core on the stability ball.
    For the most part I can understand you exercises, but there are a few I’m not sure about. And, I can’t ever download video with my internet connection…so I’d appreciate maybe short written explanations next time…I know it’s more work, but I might not be the only one.
    Thanks.

  15. Kelly @ Kelly Runs for Food on November 5, 2013 at 10:37 am

    Great workout! I usually work my abs with a medicine ball, but I always forget how great the stability ball can be!

  16. Sara on November 5, 2013 at 11:15 am

    This looks great! I am definitely going to try this out tonight 🙂 Thanks for the video too!

  17. Josie on November 5, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    This is the first time I’m saying this and maybe the only time: “This is an awesome abs work video that has everything I ever thought I wanted to do. Can’t wait to try this at home later!” 😀 Seriously, I never thought I would want to try an ab work video like this but you hit all the points on my list about why we should focus on those small stabilizing muscles around our core and it’s not just the abdominal area. It’s everything except our 4 limbs! Such an important point. I can also see the benefits of working glutes, hams, and even the hip flexors in your video, Gina! Great work. Will let you know once I try it. Xo

  18. Zorana on November 5, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    This is my favorite video so far! I had no idea that the ball can be used in so many ways. Also, so great that you show all the modifications. It helped me do the whole thing today, and showed me what I should aspire to. Thank you!

  19. Joanne on November 6, 2013 at 1:43 am

    I need to try this. My core used to feel pretty strong from keeping it engaged when I was pushing the double pushchair but now that we don’t use it, I’m definitely losing some strength.

    I’d say planks are my favourite core exercise (I just don’t try it with the little ones around because they WILL climb on my back!)

  20. Walter on November 6, 2013 at 3:20 am

    I like doing ab workouts with stability ball. I usually do crunches and leg raises with it, and I do push ups. The video contains some exercises which I have never done before, I’m going to try them. Thanks for sharing this workout video.

  21. erin on November 6, 2013 at 7:21 am

    this was a great work out! i did 3 rounds. if i had time i would’ve done 4. and came in handy when i really simply didn’t want to leave the house this morning!

  22. Erin W. on November 6, 2013 at 7:12 pm

    Loved the workout…especially that there was a video to follow along to! Keep ’em coming!

    • Fitnessista on November 6, 2013 at 8:11 pm

      :)! so glad you liked it!

  23. Ashley @ Power, Love, and Self Discipline on November 8, 2013 at 11:47 am

    This looks great! I never utilize my physio ball enough! You’ve inspired me to get it out and try this workout! Thanks so much!

  24. kayla on November 11, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    what size and brand of physio/stability ball are you using? I am looking into buying one but as a “petite” (under 5’3″) woman I am never sure what size and what brand to look into

  25. Emma on January 15, 2014 at 3:37 am

    Nice workout! Plank is my favourite too, it’s so effective and easy to do.

  26. Rich on March 28, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Great workout, especially the focus on the legs. While women quite often overemphasize legs men underemphasize them.

    The body weight exercises with the ball are amazing, a great way to be more creative in movement and for core strenght.

    I’m definitely going to try that one in the future!

    Thanks for sharing.

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