It’s all in the pull

Many group exercise classes now combine different disciplines, providing a more comprehensive full-body workout. Yoga is paired with Pilates, Spinning with abdominal workouts, step with dance moves. Something similar is happening with exercise equipment, as various kinds are fused to give the user more options for working more muscle groups.

*

Bally’s Pilates Ball With Resistance Tubing: Stability balls, which strengthen core (trunk) muscles, and resistance tubes, which help in strength training, have been used in conjunction, but as separate pieces. Now they’ve been merged into one, and joining them “provides more of a stable environment to work on,” says Norris Tomlinson, national director of group exercise for Bally Total Fitness. “The tubing doesn’t have any way of slipping from under the ball while you’re using it, so now you can focus more on what your body is doing.” Tomlinson recommends that novices learn to work with the ball alone before adding exercises with the resistance tubes.

Price: The Bally’s Pilates Ball with Resistance Tubing is about $35 and is available at Sports Authority stores.

*

-- Jeannine Stein