Class Is in Session

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March 29, 2007
Class Is in Session

By ABBY ELLIN
THE Bosu Ballast Ball — a stability ball filled with sand-like grains — might remind you of a day at the beach. But hoisting one is no picnic. Seven pounds may not sound like a lot to shake over your temple like a maraca, or to lie down and clutch between your thighs, but you’ll think differently after the 100th rep.

The Ballast ball is supposed to develop balance, flexibility, and strengthen the core. The “sand” adds extra oomph because it “forces you to go against gravity to stop it from swishing when you’re holding it in your hands,” said Marc Santa Maria, a fitness director at Crunch, who brought Powerball to New York.

The class was designed to attract people who want a mix of cardio, toning, flexibility and strength in 45 short minutes. But there are drawbacks to a one-size-fits-all product. Bienvenida Matias, who is 5 feet 2 inches tall, said she struggles with the ball because it’s too big for her. Also she added, “In other classes you can really figure out what weight you want to use, here it’s the weight that they decide.”

I spent a lot of time chasing the Ballast as it rolled out from under me, which was slightly annoying. Mr. Santa Maria assured me it wasn’t because my stomach muscles were exceptionally weak. With time, he promised, I’d get used to it, and meanwhile I could modify exercises. So instead of putting both feet on the ball and my hands on the floor for “downward-facing dog,” I could put my knees on the ball. It was slightly easier, but it still took a lot of effort to keep the ball stationary.

Dustin Schnabel, a project manager for the Bosu Project at Fitness Quest, which markets the product, put it this way: “We tell people if you want something completely stable sit on the floor.” Unfortunately, it’s hard to market a floor.

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