one starts practicing Pilates with the goal of strengthening muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility. One starts practicing Pilates with this balance ball from TOGU with the goal of taking their Pilates workouts to the next level. This balance ball is wonderful as it assists the user in improving alignment, strength and coordination. Including this ball in Pilates, workouts mean promoting core stabilization by adding resistance, which forces users to engage and activate their pelvic floor muscles. Additionally, the ball is an unstable surface, which promotes deeper core stabilization. This balance ball will help increase lumbar mobility and improve abdominal and back muscle strength. Just sitting on it helps to increase balance and stability as well as allow the user to develop overall control and strength of the core body muscles. The ball arrives deflated but comes with a straw to aid with inflation. Fully inflated, the ball has a diameter of about 12", but users can inflate and deflate based on personal preference and need. With a weight capacity of about 265 lbs., this TOGU balance ball is suitable for nearly everyone.