Best Yoga Exercise Balls To Practice Yoga

Yoga exercises involve spiritual connection and self-discipline. This includes breathing control, meditation, and specific body postures.

The major purpose of doing yoga exercises is to relax and maintain good health. However, just like any other exercise, it has to be done with specific tools.

Owning the best yoga ball is important for anyone interested in optimizing their practice.

List of the products we reviewed

A yoga ball is known by various names. It is called Exercise Ball, Swiss ball, body ball, gymnastic ball, Pilates ball, or therapy ball. It is made using soft elastic, and the diameter of a typical ball measures around 35 to 85 cm, or 14 to 34 inches.

The pressure inside the ball is adjusted simply by opening a valve to add air, or to allow an element of deflation. As well as yoga, it is often used in physical therapy, athletic training, general cardio, and weight training.

Benefits of using a yoga ball

By using a ball as an uneven surface, you can also safely increase the intensity of every workout. There are plenty of exercises you can perform in this way.

Let’s take the example of a push-up; a regular set of reps on the ground carries excellent health benefit, but adding a yoga ball underneath your legs increases the intensity, allowing you to push yourself to the max!

If you have difficulty in bending, moving, and even doing simple things, a yoga ball can help to improves your flexibility, thus making it easy to perform tasks. It can also provide support so that you can stretch certain muscles more safely. This is why physical therapists regularly use yoga balls as part of their treatment plans.

A yoga ball can help you to treat injury or pain, by supporting your body whilst you stretch or build muscles.

For example, someone with a back injury or pain may find relief by lying on the ball. Physical therapists often use these balls to treat back injuries and strains.

Sometimes, there is an imbalance between muscles. This occurs when a muscle group is stronger than the opposing muscle group.

For example, there can be an imbalance between the bicep and triceps muscles. Many people focus more on their interior, or front body, muscles, which can be either intentional or unintentional. In doing so, they avoid their posterior, or back body, muscles.
This can have a negative impact upon posture and cause imbalance.

A yoga ball helps in solving muscle imbalances, by supporting the lower back and other posterior muscles during training. To remain in good shape and avoid injury, it’s very important to train your body muscles equally.

With numerous options to choose from, making the right choice can be overwhelming. Here is a short step-by-step guide to make the process of choosing easier.

1. Measuring height

The first step is to measure your height. When you sit on the ball with your feet straight, your knees should make a right angle.

For the perfect right angle, you need to have the correct height of exercise ball.

• Remove your shoes and keep feet flat on the floor. 
• Put your back against the wall. Using a pencil, mark the area where the top of your head is. Make sure the pencil mark is visible clearly.
• Then, using a tape measure, accurately measure your height.

2. Choosing the right ball according to the height

Now you have measured your height, how do you determine which size of yoga ball is right for you?

• If your height measures less than 5 feet, then the most suitable ball size is 18 inches, or 45cm.
• Does your height range from 5 feet 1 inches to 5 feet 7 inches? Then the most ideal ball size for you is 22 inches, or 55cm.
• If you’re between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 1 inch, the most suitable ball size for you is 26 inches, or 65cm.
• Are you taller than 6 feet and 2 inches? The ideal ball size for you is 30 inches, or 75cm.

3. Ideal size according to use

If you want to use the yoga ball as an office chair, then the ball size should be 26 inches, which is suitable if the height of your desk is around 30 inches.

Of course, when you sit on the ball, it will deflate. So, the diameter needs to be 4 inches more than the height of your office chair.

4. Measure pressure

Noting the ball’s pressure is also important. When the ball is inflated to the maximum diameter, it is quite firm. As the firmness of the ball increases, so too does the difficulty of the exercises or yoga poses you are performing.

5. Try it out

Before finalizing a purchase, try out different sized yoga balls. Sit on the ball and check your position. Your hips and knees need to be bent at 90 degrees, and thighs should be parallel to the ground. If you have this posture when you sit, then the ball is perfect for you.

6. Balance and stability

Your ball needs to be sturdy and stable. The ball you choose should not be slippery at all; you don’t want to be running around constantly chasing the ball. Moreover, numerous exercises include balancing.

If a ball is slippery, it would not provide sufficient balance, and you may be at risk of sustaining an injury.

7. Tackiness

Whilst you don’t want your yoga ball to be too sticky, the ideal yoga ball should have some tackiness. It’s important to strike a good balance; you don’t want the ball to be so sticky that it pulls at your hair, but it does need to be resistant enough to protect you from slipping.

8. Durability 

Another major factor is the durability of the ball. Even if a more durable ball is slightly more expensive, it’s worth the extra investment. If your ball is not durable, then you will need to replace it much sooner; make a good investment now, and save money over time.

9. Anti-burst material

Never purchase a yoga ball which is not made using an anti-burst material. Opt for a material that ensures the ball doesn’t burst, even in the case of a puncture. The yoga ball will be supporting your body weight, so it needs to be sturdy enough to support you.

We have compiled a list of recommended yoga that strike a great balance between functionality and a fair price. Go ahead and select the one that meets your needs, or use the list as a guide to help you select an alternative.

1. Yoga Tune Up Massage Therapy Balls Pair in Mesh Tote, Aqua Blue

A great value set of two yoga balls that are specially designed to provide high control. They offer the support to complete focused movement routines, which help to provide deep massage to skin and muscles in areas of high tension.

These therapy balls also have the ability to help cure headaches, stiff necks, tight shoulders and other complications that result from muscle tension. They are manufactured from a special kind of rubber that provides good adhesion the skin, facilitating a deeper and more beneficial massage.

2. URBNFit Exercise Ball (Multiple Sizes) for Fitness, Stability, Balance & Yoga

Having good balance is very important in a yoga session. This medium-sized ball can help you to do precisely that, by promoting the strength and agility you need to develop exceptional balance.

Made from high quality rubber, this is a durable and sturdy accessory. It has a matte textured finish with horizontal lines throughout.

Both of these features improve grip and avoid slipping, which helps you to avoid injury. 

A hand pump and extra air plug are included, so you can get going with your new exercise ball as soon as it arrives. The ball has a diameter of 65 centimeters and can be inflated to the size and firmness you desire.

3. Exercise Ball 65cm Anti-Burst with Pump and Workout ebook Included 

You can enjoy an efficient yoga session with this high-quality ball, which is built to a professional grade. It has an anti-burst design that allows you to do all styles of exercises with confidence and security.

With a 65cm diameter, it is generously proportioned; making it useful for a wealth of applications.

This ball is particularly good at targeting the abdominal muscles, helping to provide you with a more functional core, which in turn can provide extra support to your back.

Using this ball is the best way to accentuate your core muscles in a short amount of time.

It comes with an eBook to guide you with your exercises, as well as instructions to help you inflate the ball correctly. An air pump is also included, which makes this package great value for money.

4. Black Mountain 2000lbs Static Strength Exercise Stability Ball with Pump

This is yoga ball has proven to be consistently popular, and is considered one of the best yoga balls you can buy. It is a professional-grade exercise ball that can easily accommodate up to 2000 pounds of pressure during a vigorous workout.

It also includes a ball pump, starter brochure, and a warranty from the manufacturer. The ball comes in a variety of sizes to meet the individual height requirements; the options are 45 cm, 55 cm, 65 cm, 75 cm, or 85cm. 

5. EXERCISE BALL - GYM GRADE QUALITY

Another excellent gym ball that increases your fitness level and strengthens your core. This ball will help improve your balance and agility, and works efficiently on highly-targeted muscle groups.

These include the abdominals, thighs, arms, shoulders, lower and upper back. It can be used before, during and after pregnancy.

This balance ball is made with the highest quality PVC material, and can be used at home, in the office or at the gym.

It comes in three different sizes; 55cm, 65cm, 75 cm. Also included in the box are a hand pump, spare plugs for the valve, an inflation measuring tape, plug removal tool, and an exercise workout guide. You are also provided with a eBook to help guide your routine.

6. BalanceFrom Slip Resistant and Anti-Burst Ball with Pump

As the name suggests, this yoga ball is slip-resistant. It is also made using an anti-burst material, which helps to protect you from injury, and maximise the longevity of the product. The manufacturers are so certain of its durability that the ball comes with a two-year warranty.

There are three colors to choose from, and each yoga ball comes with a pump. Although some users do report that the pump is not of the greatest quality, it does not overshadow the fact that the ball itself does an excellent job. Perform the most challenging poses with absolute confidence by investing in this ball.

7. DynaPro exercise ball and pump

This yoga ball is slip resistant; a vital safety feature that gives you confidence when incorporating it into your yoga routine. You are free to explore a variety of poses, safe in the knowledge that you’re protected from slips and resultant injuries.

Getting the right size with the ball can be a bit difficult. When you first inflate it, you may be required to wait for 24 hours to allow the material to stretch correctly. This time-consuming process can be off-putting for some users.

There has also been feedback to suggest that the included hand pump is not the most useful accessory, so an additional pump may be required. Despite these issues, once the ball is inflated it is an excellent accompaniment to your practice.

How to Use a Yoga Ball

A person, usually beginners, may find it hard to use a yoga ball. Mostly because it creates a rocky and wobbly surface. It forces you to maintain your balance by using your muscles differently.

There are some basic exercises that you can practice if you are a beginner.

Firstly, you should place the yoga ball in an appropriate place. Make sure that there is sufficient space for you to move around. Also, check that there are no sharp or heavy objects around that have the potential to cause an accident.

Keep a few pillows and a some rolled towels around the ball. It is advisable to put the towels near the base of the ball to stop it from rolling too much. When you can balance on the ball with ease, you can remove the towels. You might also want to ask someone to hold the yoga ball in place for you until you get used to balancing on the ball yourself.

It is important that you keep an eye on your breathing when balancing on the ball. Do not hold your breath while balancing; instead, maintain steady breathing throughout the exercise.

1. Beginner sit-ups

Sit on the ball. Keep your feet flat on the ground and at a distance, and make sure that your shoulders are in line with your hips. Your abs should also be engaged during this exercise. Cross your arms and place them on your chest. Lean back and move your feet forward and make sure your lower back rests on the yoga ball.

If you have placed towels near the ball, then move your back forward until your lower back rests on the ball. Move your feet forward and ensure that your thighs are parallel to the floor. You should be in such a position that your body makes a straight line from your head to your knees.

Lower your chin next. Lift your head and your shoulders until you are able to see your knees. The purpose of this exercise is to relax the space between your rib cage and hips. Make sure you do not sit up all the way. You can recline after doing the sit up, then repeat a further nine times to complete a set of ten.

2. Beginner leg extensions

Start by sitting on the ball, with your feet flat on the ground, hip distance apart. Keep your shoulders in line with your abs. Lift one foot and then straighten your leg, making sure that your calf is parallel to the ground. Hold this position for a minimum of 10 seconds.

Use your abs and the other leg to keep the ball from wobbling. This exercise helps to strengthen the muscles that support your spine. Put your foot back on the floor and lift up your other foot, repeat this exercise a further nine times, then switch and complete ten reps using the other leg.

3. Beginner ball lifts 

Lie on your back with your hands behind your head, and place the yoga ball between your feet. Squeeze the ball with your feet, and make sure your abs are engaged. Lift the ball upwards with your feet, and stop when your legs make a ninety-degree angle with the floor. Bring the ball down until it is one inch from the floor, then repeat for a total of 10 reps.

Wrapping It Up

To obtain optimal benefits of yoga and other floor-based exercises, you need to have the best yoga ball. Using our buying guide to help you, select a ball that is the best fit to your individual requirements.

If you can, try before you buy, and have a go at our exercises for beginners. Good luck, and enjoy your exercises!

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