Follow the bouncing ball for toning, strength

A fun new way to train your core muscles and improve overall strength and coordination requires a small weighted ball and a large stability ball. The exercise not only works your lower body, it shapes and tones your upper body as well. If you are new to stability training, make sure you start with a 2- to 3-pound ball; this exercise is much harder than it looks.

*

-- Karen Voight

*

1 Sit on a stability ball holding a medicine ball in both hands. Walk your feet away from the ball to position your upper back on top of the ball. Make sure your ankles are below your knees and your knees are hip-width apart. Hold the medicine ball above your upper chest, elbows bent to the sides of your ribs, hands underneath the ball. Maintain a straight line with your shoulders, hips and knees all at the same height.

2 With both hands, throw the ball in the air above your chest. Catch the ball, bringing your elbows back to the sides of your ribs. Repeat quickly as many times as you can. When it gets easier, start throwing the ball a little higher and use a heavier medicine ball.

*

Karen Voight can be reached at kvoightla@aol.com.