Gainesville Middle teachers have a ball

More than half of Gainesville Middle School educators and staff members are on a roll. About 60 are sitting on exercise balls to improve their health and that number is expected to increase.

This reporter learned more about the new program while conducting my first interview sitting on an exercise ball, while the interviewee did the same.

Balancing on the ball on the gym floor, Cory Nicastro said he launched the program a few weeks into this school year. Nicastro has served as a health and physical education teacher, and lived in, Manassas and Gainesville for 10 years. He began teaching at Gainesville Middle when it opened five years ago.

“After using the stability ball for my own personal health and fitness I wanted to see if I could slowly implement it in the work area,” said Nicastro. “I started using it myself in school.”

With the endorsement of his wife, Kimberly, a physician’s assistant, he approached the staff to get his idea rolling. “I introduced it to others then began promoting it. Many thought it was funny or weird, but many came to enjoy the idea.”

Now, more than half the staff and teachers at Gainesville Middle School are using stability balls instead of chairs at their desks and incorporating Nicastro’s regular e-mail tips on using the devices correctly and responsibly.

“We hope to get more teachers on board,” he said enthusiastically. “Now that the buzz is out. This is one of the smallest, easiest things you can do to improve your lifestyle.”

Nicastro said stability balls improve balance and circulation, help align the spine, strengthen core muscles and force frequent position changes, all of which he said can burn up to 350 calories per day.

Read the full story on the front page of the Nov. 11 issue of the Bull Run Observer.