Working on the Ball: A Simple Guide to Office Fitness

The average American spends 1,821 hours working each year.
It's no wonder we complain we don't have time to exercise!
That's where WORKING ON THE BALL comes into play.

Today 64 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. A reason for this is the environment in which people spend most of their waking hours: at work. Sitting all day can lead to excess fat storage, a depressed mood, and a lack of energy. Fitness gurus Jane Clapp and Sarah Robichaud's Working on the Ball: A Simple Guide to Office Fitness (Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, $9.95) solves this problem by providing an innovative, playful approach to fitness—no gym shoes, expensive club membership, or extra time required.

Exercise balls are usually found in the home, but what about at the office? Using a stability ball as a desk chair, Working on the Ball takes readers through a full day of "active sitting." Clapp and Robichaud's exercises are simple enough for any office worker to follow. Organized with mid-morning hunger cravings and after-lunch slumps in mind, Working on the Ball includes exercises such as:

• Saddle Ups: Grab your desk firmly and straddle the ball, then lift your feet off the ground Squeeze with your inner thighs and slowly let your body pull away from your desk as your arms straighten. Then engage your abs and slowly pull yourself back toward your desk. Repeat ten to twenty times.
• The Heel Digger: Dig your heels into the ground and point your toes towards the ceiling. Squeezing your butt, slightly lift off the ball. Slow squeeze, relax...squeeze, relax...squeeze, relax. Repeat fifteen to twenty times.
• The Creep: While sitting on your ball, slowly, stealthily, and steadily creep under your desk. Take four steps forward. As you step, allow your spine to make contact wtih the ball one vertebrae at a time. Just as slowly, walk back out and repeat ten times.

The key to stability ball exercises is that balance must be maintained, creating the need to continually engage several muscles throughout the body, even while just sitting.

The book makes it easy to get on the ball and get in shape. The exercises are paired with photographs that demonstrate stance and technique, and the authors provide guidance for making healthy choices in the workplace by offering such tips as nutrition information and lifestyle recommendations. Working on the Ball also offers advice on choosing a ball, and evaluates your posture and desk setup. A comprehensive fitness guide, is a must-have office supply.

About Jane Clapp and Sarah Robichaud

Jane Clapp is the founder of Urbanfitt, a fitness services company in Toronto. She has also written and performed standup comedy. During her more than 13 years in the fitness industry, her clients have included such celebrities as Richard Dreyfuss. Sarah Robichaud is a professional dancer who has performed and choreographed for classical and contemporary companies throughout Europe and Canada. She works as a personal trainer and lives in Toronto with her son.

Read Q & A with Jane Clapp and Sarah Robichaud

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Contact: Christina Martin, (800) 851-8923, ext. 6685, cmartin@amuniversal.com

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