From the author of the national bestseller The Complete Book of Abs comes the definitive book on the Next Big Thing in fitness -- core training

From the bestselling author of The Complete Book of Abs comes this comprehensive guide to a new movement in fitness: core training. The body’s "core" refers to the muscles that comprise the center of your body: the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, butt, and hips. With the increasing popularity of yoga and Pilates -- both of which depend on strong core muscles -- the fitness community has turned its focus from the abs to the core. The Brungardt brothers’ simple 9-week program is based on over 100 exercises and includes workouts appropriate for beginners and fitness enthusiasts alike. This book will help men and women of all body types and fitness levels to strengthen their core for better mobility, posture, and physique. Get ready to get fit!

The way to fitness now is core training: here’s the ultimate illustrated guide.

It’s the only workout that achieves total-body results: the healthy, powerful, balanced body you need to be truly perpetually fit. That’s why core training has become a phenomenon at gyms everywhere. These highly effective exercises work all the muscles in total harmony for stabilizing the spine; for easing shoulder, neck, and back pain; for improved posture and stress relief; and for increasing overall strength. It also tones the torso and abs beautifully. Follow the complete routines laid out on these pages, complete with plenty of color photos and expert instructions that guide you safely through each exercise, or pick and choose your own personalized workout, selecting from the color-coded beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels. There’s information on working out with free weights, Swiss balls, and resistance bands, along with yoga, Pilates, and t’ai chi. Experience it at home or take it to the gym: either way you’ll have a workout that really works.

The first of a three part series. Most abdominal books or magazines show pictures of exercises that are meant for the advanced or people who do not suffer from lower back pain. But, I have taken a different approach. I picture the body as a house; there are certain steps to take to ensure that a house stays strong and sturdy for many years. You must develop the foundation before you can build the walls. The same goes for the CORE.

Using an exercise ball for strength and fitness may be a relatively new concept, but it’s not just another exercise fad. The ball has been used extensively in rehabilitation and physiotherapy for over 30 years, with phenomenal results. Now fitness expert Lisa Westlake offers exercise buffs a simple, highly effective way to achieve a strong, defined physique using this revolutionary fitness tool. Based on the concept that working out on the "wobbly" ball forces us to use extra muscles and cultivate new skills, Westlake has developed over 90 innovative exercise techniques that will help readers achieve better muscle tone and definition as well as a stronger, healthier, injury-free body. Great for elite athletes, regular gym-goers, and determined beginners alike, Get on the Ball will show readers step-by-step how to use their exercise ball to achieve improved health and appearance. This extensive step-by-step guide is illustrated throughout with 120 duotone photographs.

In this text, Colleen Craig brings a new set of core strength exercises using inflatable balls. Note: this text not only uses a Swiss Ball; it also uses a Gymnic Overball. You probably won't find the Overball at local stores; you'll have to purchase online at somewhere like balldynamics.com or just put "gymnic overball" in a search engine for a list of vendors world-wide.

The 9-inch Overball is used for 3 things: as a Magic Circle for inner thigh/core strength, a small ball for balancing on, and a means to provide support and feedback on a variety of exercises (like a mini roll-down with the ball behind your pelvis). Colleen has created some innovative exercises here. Some of the exercises are done with a mostly-deflated Overball, so it really makes sense to have at least 2 of these guys.

Colleen makes a compelling case for the use of inflatable balls for core training in the Introduction. She points to some state-of-the-art research as to why the crunch-oriented "core training" isn't really core-oriented at all. The first three chapters are must reading for any Pilates students and for anyone who wants to understand the nature of core training and why Pilates hits the target so well for these exercises.

For beginners with Pilates, I still strongly recommend getting 10-15 group or private classes under your belt before trying any of this on your own. Core training really is a horse of a different color; we do not naturally know how to do it. While the balls give you great feedback for your proprioception, there really is no substitute for a live instructor to start you off with these kind of exercises. And many Pilates instructors have picked up some training on these balls.

This is a great book for any serious student of Pilates/core strength. If you follow these exercises, you will get stronger in the most important muscles in your body. And this are total-body exercisees: the advanced exercises presented here will involve all the muscles in your body. This is some kick-abs stuff!

Join the ranks of so many that are coming BACK to this outstanding training method! Med Ball training is an effective, safe and relatively inexpensive way to train! Can be used for general physical preparation or adapted to specifically imitate various sport movements. Appropriate to all levels of ability and development from the beginner to the elite athlete, male or female. Excellent for the young developing athlete, as well! Use it in all training environments, in large group situations or solo. This book demonstrates over 100 medicine ball exercises, drills, teaching progressions and specific workouts for different sports. Easy to follow illustration

This is Colleen's third "on the ball" book, and it just keeps getting better. When one hears the words "strength training", the words usually implied are "for atheletes". Colleen certainly covers challenging exercises, but she also includes chapters for rehabilitation, seniors, and one for children. What a delight! Besides the Swiss Ball, Colleen also uses stretch bands, small hand weights, and the small dynaball in the routines. The exercises using the swiss ball and dynaball simultaneously are quite challenging; they allow one to extend the concept of "core stability" to the deep muscle lines in our arms and legs.

One particularly striking exercise: on p. 124, Colleen is doing a one-armed rowing motion while prone on the Swiss Ball. The non-rowing arm is balancing by holding onto a dynaball. Study that left arm! The dynaball completely alters the quality of the exercise; it makes the one-arm exercise supremely challenging for the entire upper body and both arms. Colleen herself is the model for these hand-weight exercises; the lines of her body simultaneously demonstrate fantastic strength and amazing relaxation/suppleness in her superficial muscle lines.

When Colleen's "Pilates on the Ball" first came out, there were virtually no titles of "ball" exercises. Now, there are literally dozens of titles. The bad news for those other authors: Colleen is the definitive expert in this field, and she continues her path of innovation with this book.

If you want to improve your strength, get this book. If you want to improve your flexibility or rehab from an injury, get this book. If you have children or parents who want to maintain/improve their strength/flexibility/fun, get this book. The Swiss Ball is no passing fad, and this book will show why.

Weights are great for working the arms and upper body, and the exercise ball produces exceptional results in the core abs and lower body. With exercises suited for all skill levels, Weights on the Ball Workbook shows how to simultaneously use both pieces of equipment for the ultimate total-body workout. Just sitting on a bench while performing arm curls leaves abdominals doing virtually nothing and leg muscles completely relaxed. Sit balanced on the ball while doing those same curls and a simple arm movement explodes into a total-body exercise as the mid- and lower-body stabilizer muscles are forced to work equally hard. Weights on the Ball Workbook teaches combination exercises like seated curls as well as dozens of specially designed movements that fully utilize the potential of this unique equipment tandem. In addition to programs that are easily tailored to individual fitness levels, Weights on the Ball Workbook describes proper training methods and explains how to achieve specific goals by varying the workout and carefully monitoring the number of repetitions. Last but not least, the author shows how to have fun and enjoy a workout that produces results in half the time of a traditional workout.

Bonus DVD makes this a complete at-home workout! Want a sleek, sexy, sculpted body? Join the PowerSculpt revolution, the first exercise ball program designed especially for women.

One of America's elite trainers, Paul Frediani, has developed an exciting, effective personal fitness program that provides a fun, full-body workout and delivers fast and wonderful results. PowerSculpt combines the best elements of strength training, body sculpting, flexibility, and core conditioning.
With PowerSculpt you will:

• Take inches off—all over!
• Boost your metabolism to burn mega calories.
• Jump start your energy and stamina.
• Strengthen your chest, shoulders and core for perfect. posture and a figure you'll love showing off.
• Look great and feel beautiful!

This new DVD edition brings you complete follow-along instructions so you get the perfect form for the perfect results. Ready to get in the best shape of your life? Then get on the ball with PowerSculpt. 200 b/w photos.

PLYOMETRIC EXERCISES With the Medicine Ball: Optimum performance of an athlete requires two complementary abilities: skill and power. All sports share these features. This book describes exercises designed to develop power, particularly the speed component of power, in the upper extremities trunk and lower extremities. It begins with planning of a program focusing on intensity, duration and recovery. It explains the classifications of the exercises. It then moves into the actual exercises with usually five in each area of: Arm - individual, Arm - partner; Trunk - individual, Trunk - partner; Leg - individual, Leg - partner; Passing; general Upper, general Trunk, general Lower; with a whole section of exercises for the Wheelchair Athletes. As you can see, it is vary comprehensive and I find it an excellent book that I have now incorporated in to the exercise class I teach at a local fitness center.

You'll never run out of ways to use Swiss (also called stability) balls and medicine balls with this book, which describes and illustrates 69 exercises that can be done with one (or sometimes both) of these balls. Swiss and medicine balls are popular among athletes for conditioning, strength, flexibility, and balance. They provide an unstable platform, challenging balance and core stabilization and helping athletes train for unpredictable situations. You'll progress from basic exercises, like pushups with the feet on the Swiss ball and crunches lying on the ball, to challenges like kneeling on the ball unassisted for three minutes and the one-legged jackknife. Each exercise is described in three stages--setup, movement, and finish--and many also include advanced variations. Illustrations--usually two per exercise--are clear and large, and the book opens flat, so you can do the exercises with the book beside you on the floor. Special training recommendations for football, skiing, tennis, soccer, golf, judo, hockey, baseball, figure skating, volleyball, and basketball are included. Both authors are strength/conditioning coaches, lecturers, and consultants. This book is highly recommended for the serious exerciser, athlete, or trainer looking for innovative ways to use Swiss and/or medicine balls. --Joan Price

Join the PowerSculpt revolution! Build muscle, strength and stamina. The revolutionary fitness ball program: designed now just for men.
It's a fact. The fitness ball is one of the most effective ways for men to build muscle and lose body fat. Elite personal trainer, Paul Frediani, has developed a muscle and strength building personal fitness program that provides a full-body workout and delivers results fast. PowerSculpt combines the best elements of strength training, body sculpting, flexibility and core conditioning in a program you can do at home or the gym.

With PowerSculpt for Men you will:

• Build muscle and burn body fat.
• Gain core strength and stability.
• Increase flexibility and energy.
• Flatten your abs and tone your whole body.
• Look and feel great - in record time!

Ready to get in the best shape of your life? Then get on the ball with PowerSculpt for Men. Bonus DVD features follow-along routines for home and gym workouts. 200 b/w photos.

This indispensable guide was designed to show health and fitness professionals how to incorporate stability balls into exercise programs. Begins with a brief history and explanation of the benefits of stability ball use, then offers expert advice on development of training programs for the general population, as well as special populations, including: pregnant women, children, older adults, overweight and obese individuals, exercisers with diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and post-rehab patients. Includes information on proper techniques and progression, injury prevention, contraindicated exercises, flexibility, and much, much more. Contains over 100 photographs and illustrations. Produced in cooperation with the American Council on Exercise.

Provides the most complete medicine ball training guide for youth, adults, and seniors ever written. Begins with the basics of medicine ball training and continues through advanced program design considerations, including every step necessary to develop a successful conditioning program using medicine balls for individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Covers potential health and fitness benefits, how to choose the right medicine balls, safety considerations, training principles, program variables, individual evaluation, program prescription, warm-up and warm-down exercises, lower and upper body, specialty, reaction, stability, core, and flexibility exercises, periodization, progression levels, samples workouts, special populations and much, much more. Contains dozens of photographs and illustrations.

From shapely abs to the "Pilates Powerhouse," core strengthening has become the main focus for today's exercise enthusiasts. Now, Ultimate Core Ball Workout takes core training to a higher level with its on-the-ball variations of traditional mat exercises.
The unique benefits of ball training enable the program in Ultimate Core Ball Workout to produce better results in less time. Any crunch will work the abs, but this book's crunch on the ball simultaneously engages the stabilizing muscles of the abdomen and lower body, working more muscle and producing a more sculpted midsection faster. The exercises outlined in this book are suitable for all levels, from beginner to fitness professional, and the photo sequences and clearly written captions teach proper techniques.

Offering more than just good-looking abs, the program in Ultimate Core Ball Workout produces numerous health and fitness benefits, including a stronger, more supportive back, improved posture, better performance in sports, and even more enjoyable sex. Plus, each exercise is presented with tips and modifications to increase the challenge so readers can continue to improve and get stronger over time.