How To Deflate Yoga Balls? 3 Simple Methods

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If you ever wondered about How To Deflate Yoga Balls, you will get all the answers here with our simple 3 steps guide to do it without any hassle. Hope this will be of help for you.

How To Deflate Yoga Balls

Yoga and Yoga Balls 

Pilates balls, which are most commonly known as yoga balls, are an important piece of equipment for any form of exercise. It is a great workout tool and is mostly used to strengthen core muscles, improve your body balance and is sometimes even used to accomplish certain complicated stretching by providing support to the body.

We usually find them in our yoga studios, pilates studios, in our gym but sometimes people even buy them and keep them at home for various workout purposes- and that is exactly when the problem arises. They are big, round and come in a very odd shape which makes it very difficult to store in and out of the way area.

However, thankfully they can be easily deflated and stored in an organized way. This helps to free up your workout room or your space without filling it up in a clumsy way.

Deflating yoga balls makes it smaller in size to store it away by following a few simple and easy steps. But don’t you worry! It can be easily inflated too. Nonetheless, here in this article, we provide you with a handy guide as to how yoga balls can be deflated.

How To Reduce Air In Yoga Ball?

In this section, we will discuss 3 easy ways to deflate a yoga ball at home yourself. Hope you find it useful.

How To Reduce Air In Yoga Ball

Method 1: DIY Method To Deflate A Yoga Ball At Home 

As mentioned earlier, deflating a yoga ball is not at all difficult. In fact, it is actually quite easy and can be done by you yourself at home. The method mentioned below is more of a DIY step when you do not have access to air pumps or any other tool to allow the air to come out.

However, it involves quite a few numbers of steps that need to be followed or else it could end up damaging your yoga ball. So, let us dive right into it, and find out how yoga balls can be deflated.

Step 1: Make It Static And Locate The Valve

Your first step is to place the ball carefully on flat ground so that it doesn’t keep rolling away. And if it does balance it carefully till the ball is static in one place. Once done, look for the valve stem cover. The valve stem cover is usually is a small disc placed somewhere on the ball which measures about ½ inch in diameter.

However, before getting into deflating the exercise ball, it is important that you understand the mechanism of the valve stem cover. It is designed specially like a tube that is inserted into the inflation hole to lock in the air. The inflation hole is from where the air is put in or put out.

Therefore, it is extremely essential that the valve stem cover is removed before the ball is or can be deflated.

Step 2: Work The Valve Carefully 

Once you have located the valve stem cover remove it very carefully. Do not rush through any of the processes or it could end up harming your exercise ball. In most cases, these yoga balls are made in such a way that you can easily place your finger or your fingernail right under the lip of the stem and wiggle it in the upward direction till you can grasp them easily with your fingertips.

However, if that is not the case and you can’t place your fingertips easily under the lip or the edge you can try using some other tools like the blunt side of a butter knife.

Nonetheless, in cases like this, you have to be very careful not to dig into the ball itself. Once you have placed the dull edge of the butter knife lift up the valve stem cover gently.

Step 3: Pull Out The Valve 

The next step is to have a firm and a tight grasp over the valve system with your fingertips and pulling it out. During this process make sure that you use a twisting pulling out motion or a back and forth motion- depending on what you feel is necessary for the valve system cover to come out.

Once again, do the whole process gently and do not use much force. Now, pull the stem completely out of the ball for the excess air to come out.

Once you have done this, you will notice that even though the ball has decreased in size, it is not really deflated. And that is where your next step comes into action.

Step 4: Apply Pressure On The Ball To Squeeze Out The Air 

Your next step would be to apply a considerable amount of pressure on the ball. You may choose to squeeze it or even lie down on it allowing the entire amount of air escape from inside the ball.

You may also leave the ball for some time with the valve stem cover open and gradually this will deflate or bring out half of the air inside.

This will reduce the size of the ball extensively. For further deflation, roll it or fold it forcefully allowing the air that is remaining inside the ball. This will deflate your yoga ball completely and you can store it or organize it the way you want to.

Method 2: Use A Airpump To Deflate The Ball

The above-mentioned step is a very simple and easy method to deflate exercise balls. However, if you have access to an air pump you may also choose to use them which are often packaged along with the ball.

For this method, the tip of the pump must be inserted carefully into the inflation hole under the edge of the valve which will help release the air automatically.

For this method, you do not have to apply external force or pressure for the air to escape. This will be done completely by the air pump.

Use A Plug Remover To Release Air 

Method 3: Use A Plug Remover To Release Air 

This method involves the use of a plug remover to remove the valve stem cover. A plug remover is a specially designed plastic tool with two prongs on either side which helps you to remove the valve smoothly and easily.

Step 1: Place The Plug Remover Rightly 

Place the ball carefully on the ground and locate the valve stem cover. Make sure that you have good control over the ball.

Once you have located the valve stem cover take the plug remover and carefully slide its prongs around the valve stem cover (or plug) of the yoga ball. The difficulty of this step completely depends on how much your yoga ball is inflated.

If the ball is inflated to the brim and is firm and tight you might have to apply some force on it. However, to be gentle. If it is not so firm then the plug remover should go in smoothly around the valve stem cover.

Step 2: Remove the Plug Carefully 

Once the plug remover is placed properly around the valve stem cover, secure the plug remover carefully. Once it has been properly secured squeeze the plug remover to grip the plug and wiggle it around. Pull up to remove the plug.

Step 3: Put Pressure To Release Air 

Once you have removed the plug with the plug remover, put pressure on the ball to release the air. If you have an air pump that has a two-way action you can even use that to suck out the air from inside the ball.

Step 4: End

Once all the air was released, and the ball has become a completely flat place the valve stem cover back in the inflation hole so as not to lose it. Then fold the ball as per your requirement and store it conveniently in your set aside space.

Pro Tip

If you do not have a plug remover or have misplaced it, then you can even use a spoon, a coin or even a flathead screwdriver instead of the plug remover tool. However, a plug remover is always helpful because it prevents any kind of potential damage to your yoga ball.

Conclusion

If you follow these instructions of the various methods carefully, then these simple handy guidelines will make you a pro at deflating yoga balls right at home allowing you to free a considerable amount of space in your workout zone.

This will also help you to store the ball properly without causing it any kind of damage.

Also, Read Our Post On How To Do Yoga With Bad Wrist?