Stability Ball Circuit Workout
A total-body circuit workout you can do anywhere, using a stability ball and a pair of dumbbells.
Hi friends! How’s the morning going?? Hope you’re having a great day so far!
We’re off to the beach -it’s EXTRA gorgeous outside!- and spending the afternoon getting some Tucson stuff packed + Liv’s back to school goodies together. She requested a ladybug backpack… thank goodness for Amazon.
Today, I have an all-new stability ball workout for you!
(Outfit: c/o Fabletics, Shoes: New Balance)
The stability ball is one of my favorite workout tools. It adds some balance challenge to many traditional exercises, and is a fun way to get different muscles (especially those deep core stabilizers) guessing. It’s also one of my favorite chairs. I’ll often sit on my stability ball to keep my core awake and engaged while I type away.
Here is the workout, which includes some of my very favorite stability ball compound movements:
Tips and form cues:
Push-up and pike: keep in mind that the closer the ball is to your ankles, the more challenging this exercise is going to be. Make sure that your hands are wide and you’re pressing through your entire hand. As you bend your elbows, lower your chest towards the floor. Your elbows should go slightly back. Exhale and squeeze your chest to rise, so you’re in a plank position. Inhale, and as you exhale, lift your hips up towards the ceiling, keeping your legs as straight as possible. If the pike is too much, do a knee tuck instead. Bend your knees to bring them towards your chest, then extend back out to a plank position.
Booty V raise: this is one of my all-time favorite moves! The ball will be on your low stomach; put it where it feels comfortable. Press your hands into the floor, and step your feet apart, so your legs make a “v” shape. Take an inhale, and as you exhale, squeeze your glutes to lift your legs off the floor and bring your heels towards each other. As you lower down, feet are wide (back in that “V” shape).
Dumbbell Y’s and T’s: for this one, the ball will be in the same spot as your V raise. Use a light to moderate set of dumbbells. Take an inhale, and then as you exhale, keep your arms almost straight (slight bend at the elbow) and the weights up in line with your torso, making a “Y” shape. Lower down as you inhale, then exhale to bring them out (so your arms are perpendicular to your toroso; a “T” shape), and lower down.
Alphabet plank: place your forearms on the ball and step your feet back, so you’re in a plank position. Keep your hips down in line with your torso and your neck long. Start the timer and begin to “draw” the alphabet with the ball. See how far you can get in 30 seconds 😉 If you need to take a break, lower your knees to the floor, take a deep breath, and pop back up when you’re ready.
Hamstring curl and chest press: hold a pair of moderate to heavy dumbbells, and lie onto your back, placing your feet on top of the ball. Bring your arms to a 90-degree angle, and squeeze your glutes to lift your hips off the floor, with legs as straight as possible. Inhale, and then exhale to bend your knees in towards your booty, as you chest press the weights up, squeezing your chest. Inhale to lower to weights, and extend your legs. Keep your hips lifted the entire time.
Single leg squat to lateral lunge: stand about 3-ft in front of the stability ball and place one foot back on the ball. (Stand close to a wall if you need to for balance.) Sink into a lunge position, making sure your torso stays upright and your front knee remains stacked over your front ankle. As you rise, straighten the back leg, and pivot your torso to perform a lateral lunge. Complete all of your reps on one side before switching to the other side.
Full sit-up: start lying in a supine position with your feet on the ball. Keep your legs as straight as possible. Bring your arms overhead, take an exhale, and as you exhale, engage your transverse abdominis (deep core muscles) and keep your belly pulled in as you complete a sit-up.
Complete all of the exercises in a circuit, moving quickly from one exercise to the next. This circuit can be completed up to 3 times total. As always, honor your body and talk with a doctor before making any fitness changes.
Please let me know what you think! What’s your favorite stability ball exercise?
xoxo
Gina
More stability ball workouts:
Stability ball strength workout
Hard core stability ball workout video
Focus On: Stability Ball exercises
20 things to do with a stability ball
Photos: Arielle Levy
Location: Point Loma Sports Club
169 Comments
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I love the alphabet plank!!
Pikes are my very favorite stability ball exercise!
My favorite stability ball exercise is the pike!
I love stability ball workouts! My favorite are ab exercises. I pass the ball from overhead to between my ankles for a great ab workout!
The 1-leg squat to lateral lunge is a favorite of mine – challenging but I love it!
I looooove stability ball pikes! They hurt so good 🙂
My favorite exercise on the stability ball are back extensions.
Lover the alphabet plank!
My fave stability ball workouts are any ab ones!
I love the pike on the ball
V-crunch with stability ball pass. Because it makes me so sore the next day!
Doing push-ups with your feet up on the ball!
Plank!
I love hamstring curls and pikes on the stability ball!
I want to win the charcoal! My favorite stability ball workout is reverse crunches!
I really like the leg squat to lateral lunge.
My favorite stability ball workout is a hamstring curl!
I totally don’t use the stability ball enough! I’m going to try this soon to change up my workout routine 🙂
Stability ball hamstring curls were my boyfriend, but then you went and showed me the Magic Mike alphabet plank. Temptress for the win.
I love bridge with my feet on the ball! Good booty workout
Push up to pike is my favorite
My fav is hamstring curls and pikes.
I love bridges with feet on the ball!
Pikes!
Booty V-raise! Thanks for another resource to mix up the fitness routine!
Just tried the alphabet plank and loved it! That one is by far my favorite!:)
Hamstring curls!! Love them!
Love hip raises on the ball superset with ball roll-ins for glute and hamstring Combo
Love plank to push-ups on the stability ball!
Pikes are the stability ball exercise that I love to hate!
Love sneaky giveaways!
I love stability ball pikes!
Chest press or curl.
stability ball pikes! gotta love (to hate) ’em! 😉
Is it odd to say I love the push up to pike?!!
My favorite stability ball workout is doing the crunches. I really feel my abs working!
Plank rollouts!
My favorite is the hamstring curl!
I love laying on back and rolling into a wheel. Its the most amazing stretch for the entire body. running up is booty lifts.
I love pikes on the ball!
My favourite is the ball pass
Can’t wait to try this workout!
Hamstring curls! :):)
I love pikes!
I like pikes! This workout actually reminds me that I’ve been wanting to get my ball out again.
I love push-ups off the stability ball bc it works you arms, shoulders, and core!
Love pikes
Good old fashioned ab exercises are my fave stability ball exercises!
I love doing chest presses on the stability ball!
V crunch
I love the hamstring curl. Hurts so good.