Exercise balls are actually one of the best fitness and training tools to have. These allow you to work more muscles because of the added responsibility of keeping yourself balanced. Plus, your abs and your lower back get a lot of work on. This is a great way to stay in shape, so here area few of my favorite exercise ball workouts that I thought I would share.

Workout #1: Exercise Ball Crunch

This workout takes the traditional crunches to a whole new level.

• Plant your feet firmly on the floor

• Place your lower back onto the exercise ball while keeping your thighs parallel to the floor

• Lift your shoulders up off the ball and return to your starting position

• Remember to tighten your abs as this will give it maximum effect

• Do around 3 to 5 sets

Workout #2: Elevated Pushups

• Place your legs on the exercise ball with your hands on the floor

• Place your hands should be in line with your shoulders

• Your body should be parallel with the floor

• Lower your upper body to the floor, down to the point where your face is nearly touching the floor

• Push yourself back up to your original position

Workout #3: The Balanced Pushups

In a little twist, you will place your hands on the exercise ball and your feet on the floor instead of the other way around. It doesn’t look like much but this workout does do a lot for your arms. It is one of those exercise ball workouts that really works.

• Place your hands, shoulder width apart, on the exercise ball

• Your feet should be braced on the floor

• Now push your upper body off the exercise ball in a normal pushup motion

Workout #4: The Superman Pose

• Place your body on the exercise ball

• Stretch out your arms in front of you

• Place you feet firmly on the ground, balancing yourself with your toes (your legs should form a 45 degree angle with the floor

• Your body should look like superman flying upwards

Workout #5: The Seated Wall Roll

• Stand with your back to the wall

• Your feet should be shoulder width apart

• Place the exercise ball between your back and the wall

• Do a squat and allow the ball to roll down your back until you are in a sitting position

• Return to your starting position

These are just five of the really effective exercise ball workouts that are out there.