Squats on a balance ball

No joke. People actually do this and it is the stupidest, most useless thing you can do. The only thing that squatting on a ball will get you good at is squatting on a ball. It does not build core strength or carryover into other activities that require balance. Stay away from unstable surface training.

Talk about a perfect set up for a donnagel commercial.

If that guy behind him is a personal trainer, he needs to get fired!

Exactly what I was thinking. Who would employ a walking liability like that? Perhaps bodyweight squats on a ball could serve some purpose (improving balance?) but with 135 lbs on your back!?

AGREED!!

That may be the dumbest thing in the weight room I've ever seen.  I think this stabiltiy ball craze is going to far.  that guy must be a manlet to squat 135# or so and stand on the ball without it breaking. 

I wouldn't consider 99% of the kids in local globo-gyms a "personal trainer" anyways. Agree with Mike on this one.

That is absolutely nuts.

Now, I do squats on a bozu ball all the time to help strengthen my bad knee...but that is taking it a LITTLE far!

X2
HAHAHAHA

Yes! This is the proper role of unstable surface training - to strengthen ankles and knees after injury and regain strength in the stabilizer muscles. However, once function is regained, there is no need to keep doing it. You won't build more coordination by continuing this type of training.

Not to hijack the thread or anything but how do you know when is when with the uneven surface training post-injury?

Good question to which I do not know the answer. However, this type of rehab work should be done with a physical therapist, and he/she should be able to assess when you are good to go. If you have a minor ankle sprain that you are trying to rehab on your own (unstable surface training is also great for ankle sprains), all I can say is use your judgment. My understanding is that this type of rehab work is done only on the injured limb. If you do too much it won't hurt you. The problems start when trainers start recommending unstable surface training for two limbs at a time. Not only is there a risk of falling, but it messes up your movement patterns so that you mess up your stable-surface squat technique.

I have read about this happening to people. A couple of pro athletes in fact. They were not doing what this guy is doing to my knowledge, but bosu ball explosions apparently do occur.

Ball popping with that much weight...hurts me just thinking about it. OMG. Hurts me a LOT.

Pretty sure that is Jean-Paul from JPFitness.  He no longer does these and I'm pretty sure there was some betting or other coercion going on when he did this.