Customer Reviews

10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fitness Ball Workouts is a sequence of five short fitness routines, each of which use a stability ball. Because this DVD is part of the 10 Minute Solution series, each workout is only 10 minutes long, and the fully programmable feature allows you to mix and match up to six segments to create your own, completely customized routine--very nice! None of the segments have formal warm-ups or cool-downs, but most do prepare you with a few moves in the beginning and then add some quick stretches at the end. I've provided a brief overview for each of the five routines below:

1. Lower Body. Although this segment uses no weights, it was probably the most challenging of the five. Kimberly begins with simple squats and side-to-side lunges, but she eventually adds in bouncing the ball and raising it overhead; combined with the high number of repetitions, you'll be really working here. Next comes some glute work while lying face down on the ball, and finally, there is a tough hamstring portion performed lying with your feet on the ball.

2. Upper Body. This segment was probably the most disappointing, especially given that Kimberly uses such light weights (I believe she is using 3#). She begins by warming up the upper body with push-ups (an easier version with hands on the ball) and then moves into an upper body circuit. The circuit includes rows, tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, shoulder presses, side raises, and front raises; it is repeated three times, each time adding a few new moves such as flyes/rear flyes. Kimberly moves quickly, which makes it difficult to vary your weights as needed (I tried to switch between 5# and 8#).

3. Core. Kimberly does warm you up here with some spinal rolls and core twists holding the ball. She performs several sets of crunches while seated on the ball, adding a twisting move to target the obliques. More oblique work follows while lying sideways over the ball, and then Kimberly moves to the floor for additional crunches, this time passing the ball from feet to hands. Some brief back work follows (kneeling while leaning forward on the ball), and then Kimberly finishes with plank work (arms/hands on ball).

4. Cardio. This segment begins with squats and lunges, rolling the ball in front of you for balance. Kimberly adds in bouncing the ball and tossing it overhead, which was kind of fun. She then ups the intensity with some impact moves such as jacks (holding the ball overhead) and plyo squat jumps (hands on the ball). There is a brief interval where you continue to work while seated on the ball, but then it's back on your feet for more jumps, hopping out to plank with your hands on the ball. This segment ends with a squat and roll over the ball plus a few quick stretches. Although this routine was fairly intense, my HR was only in my target zone for about half the workout (5 minutes). Also, it took up quite a bit of room in my small space.

5. Flexibility. In this final segment, Kimberly leads you through a series of stretches using the ball. There is more of a lower body emphasis, beginning with lunges/hip flexor stretches as well as some standing hamstring stretches. There are a few upper body stretches performed seated on the ball, but for some reason, Kimberly moves very quickly through these and does not hold them for as long as the lower body stretches.

Overall, although these were generally solid, well-designed routines, I didn't really enjoy this workout. I'm not sure that the 10-minute format works well for mixing strength and cardio; an all-strength program might have been better. However, I would recommend this video to those who like Kimberly, enjoy using the ball, and prefer to break their workouts into shorter segments; the fact that the routines are programmable is definitely a huge plus as well.

Following their other dvds, this also is five different 10 minute workouts. You can't say that you don't have even 10 minutes to spare. It's funny; you just go and do one workout, and before you know it, you have probably made it through a second or third. That's one of the things I really like about the 10 Minute Solution series.
In the different workouts there is lower body and upper body, cardio, core and one for increasing flexibility. The routines are all creative and interesting. You aren't just doing the usual crunches but different exercises to keep this fresh. The instructor Kimberly, is motivating and she makes it fun. I like the cardio section the best. She makes it easy to follow because she is another good cuer. You always know what's next so it's easy to keep up with. I really like this and while it's not the most challenging, it's enjoyable and mixes up my routine to keep me from getting bored.

I have never used any of the 10 minute Solution videos before and purchased several at once. I have especially enjoyed this one. The 10 minute segments are great and you can pick and choose as many as you want to do at a time. The instructor is not annoying to listen to as in so many exercise videos. Her comments are minimal and funny. This DVD has been a nice switch for me since I usually do my fitness ball workouts from memory and not with a DVD to keep me paced.
Love it, love it, love it!

I love this tape because you can do seperate segments that are only 10 minutes each. You can hit your abs while waiting for pasta water to boil or get a good stretch b4 bed. You can break it up and use it with other workouts to boost your metabolism. I love it

I like this workout routine, it is not too difficult and has plenty of variety. The another great feature is the host. She is welcoming and very encouraging -- "You can do this, you are strong". :-) It really helps me get through the routines. A+

This video does everything it advertises. I use it for 10-20 minutes a day, 5 days a week and I'm getting results in just over a month. The ab routine is exceptional. The lower body and cardio workouts both get your heart pumping a bit (especially if you use big movements). The stretch section is thorough. I could really feel my arm muscles burn in the upper body portion with the right size weights for me.

I tried the 'as seen on tv' core stability ball workout and it was great, too, but I was never able to customize it to my needs and time constraints. Also, they would send a new video to me every other month, whether it would fit for me or not -- and if it did not fit for me, they would give me the option of sending it back -- on MY dime. This program never gets boring and I can certainly find 10-20 minutes in my day to do this workout on the weekdays, and I walk with my daughter on the weekends. When I do finally feel like it is too much of a routine, I'm going to try the 10 Minute Yoga Solution to mix and match with this one just to bring something different into the mix. It is definitely straight forward and efficient. Do remember, however, even if you only work out for 10 minutes, there is no cool down at the end of each section. Do some slow pacing around and slow, deep breathing stretches afterward for 5 minutes or so to get your heart rate back to an acceptable level.

A final thought...., if you don't care about anything else I've said, do know that out of the 22 exercise videos I've purchased (cardio, dance, Latin, bellydance, yoga, taichi, qigong -- I like trying new things), this is the fastest working fitness solution I have ever used!

I have a hard time sticking with an exercise program, I was using the 10 minute solutions pilates, but it seemed like an awful lot of work, I'm not in the best shape, so getting through an hour of that is a serious workout. So I got this, and it is definitely still a workout, but because you use the ball, it is gentler, and I find the ab workout to actually target my abs instead of hurting my lower back. She seems to work more at my level, which I like because then I'm not always falling behind.

This workout is fun. The instructor is appealing, motivating, encouraging, and fun. She moves through the exercise routines smoothly. It is not boring but so far I enjoy it over the other DVD's I bought from the 10-minute solutions. Also my 9-year old daughter enjoys it, so that we fight over who gets to do it first.
The workouts are great, I feel the muscles burning.
It is great that you can do just 1 or all 5 workouts. As a mom it is a great option, so if I need to stop working out I can do so and continue later.
Great buy

Ever since I bought a Stability Ball I've found it to be one of the most fun ways to exercise. I have rented as well as own several of the "10 Minute Solution" DVDs and greatly enjoy most of them and this"10 Minute Solution: Fitness Ball Workouts" is no exception. Lead by a warm, friendly instructor (Kimberly Spreen) this DVD is divided into 5, Ten-minute segments: "Butt & Thigh Tone-Up", "Arms &Shoulders Sculptor", "Firm, Flat Abs", "Total Body Fat Burner", and "Ultra Stretch."

The "Butt & Thigh Toner" consists of squats and lunges but with the twist of incorporating the Stability Ball as well as leg & buttocks lifts and floor exercises on the Ball. I found this segment to be overall effective in a relatively short amount of time.

The "Arms & Shoulder Sculptor" is probably my favorite. Kimberly uses light dumbells (you'll of course, choose what ever weight suits you) and goes through several circuits of light-weight, fast-paced exercises while either sitting or lying on the ball. The biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest and back are worked in this segment, not to mention the ab muscles which are recuited to help support the upper body while trying to balance on the Ball.

"Firm, Flat Abs" is a fairly basic yet highly effective routine, consisting of crunches, reverse curls and lower back exercises (all using the Ball of course) that really targets all areas of the core.

"Total Body Fat Burner" is a cardio/aerobic exercise routine in which you'll have fun lifting, swaying, and bouncing the ball around at an aerobic heart-elevating pace. When doing this segment alone, I would recommend playing it twice for a full 20-minute cardio workout. Otherwise, 10 minutes if fine when combining with the other segments or as an add-on to another workout.

"Ultra Stretch" is a wonderful way to cool down and stretch out the muscles using the Ball. I found this routine to be relaxing, though admittedly I wish there had been more of a focus on actual flexibility. However, I absolutely loved the music in this segment!

Overall, this is an effective and easy-to-learn workout - although not super tough but fun. I'd rate it as beginner to intermediate level. You'll engage your core in every segment because your balance will be challenged virtually every moment you're using the ball. I love combining segments with this DVD and the time flies by.

I only have one little complaint about this DVD, but it's worth noting. Kimberly is obviously of tall stature and if you're short like me this can be a bit of a problem even when using the 55 cm ball (for 5'3" and under). A few of the exercises require that you wrap your body over the ball, or grip the ball and move quickly in a way which is difficult if you're little. For instance, I couldn't keep the ball from rolling away from me when doing side oblique lifts off the ball while raising my arms up, because my torso wasn't long enough to grip the ball while in the same position as the instructor, nor my legs and arms long enough. Interestingly, I've never had this problem with any of Tamilee Web or Denise Austin's stability ball exercises, and they both happen to be of shorter stature. While this doesn't make these particular exercises impossible, it may require some self-modifying if you're petite.


Rating: Good

This is a disappointment from my collection of 10 Minute Solution DVDs. The moves are the regular ones which are all effective, but if you are looking for new more challenging moves, then this DVD does not have it, unfortunately. I prefer Quick Fix Stability Ball workout lead by Kelli Roberts as a satisfying workout on the ball.