Customer Reviews

Balance Ball Fitness - Abs Workout [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This workout is in a very peaceful atmosphere, with water running in the background and a beautiful setting. I really like how it seems as if the instructor is following the instructions just like the viewers, listening to her recorded voice. It makes doing the stretches and exercises a lot easier. This video is very easy to follow and they explain the correct way to breath, sit, stretch, almost everything. The instructor has a very soothing voice that just helps you to relax. I would recommend this video for someone to use after they workout to cool down and feel a nice burn in their abs. The is one exercise is kind of difficult if you are using it for the first couple of times, but once you start using it, it gets easier and easier until you can do the exercise perfectly. I would recommend this video to anyone who wants to tighten their abs without straining his or herself while relaxing after an aerobic workout.

This ab workout is amazing, but deceptively hard. The workout is based on Pilates moves and I think someone who has not had experience with Pilates techniques and breathing may either have a hard time with getting the posturing right (and keeping it that way), and may be wasting their time if they don't have the proper Pilates basics down. A lot of the ab work depends on using your abs to breathe, and this is explained well by the instructor. One problem with the video is that some of the moves she does towards the end of the workout are very advanced Pilates moves-- impossible at a beginner or even intermediate level. Some of these moves have to be built up to with other moves, but the instructor just has us doing them as if they were simple situps. She does, however, aknowledge that we may have difficulties doing some of the moves, and offers alternate moves (eg. alternating leg and arm moves instead of doing them simultaneously). If you have never done Pilates before, I suggest doing this video with someone who has, and can give you tips on posturing that the video does not provide. All in all, however, this is a great video and a VERY hard ab workout. I was definately feeling it the next day.

Most ab workout videos cause me a great deal of pain in my lower back due to an old injury. This video is amazing! Not only is the ball supportive but the video gives you variations for certain moves until you are stronger. Susan Deason goes over the moves thoroughly but I suggest watching the video first, then participating in the moves. If you are out of shape or overweight, this a great video to add to walking for exercise.

I love this video. The first time I did it, it didn't feel like I was working anything, but I did the whole 30 minutes nonetheless. Later that evening, I couldn't believe how much I had worked my abs. They actually hurt when I laughed! And I couldn't work them for a few days. Since then, I can do the tape every other day or so and I can see a lot more definition. I feel great and refreshed on the days that I do the tape.

Also, it is a very relaxing setting and Suzanne is very calming which is good if you're not looking for a high energy workout. Very yoga-like.

This is a great abs workout and very relaxing. The method involves lots of stretching and focusing on breathing. Lots of different exercises are introduced. Some are easy and some are more difficult. My mom says that there's no way she'll ever be able to do the move where you lie on your back with the ball between your feet and then put your feet and the ball over your head, but she can do all the other moves. Because there aren't many repetitions of each move, it doesn't seem like the workout is that hard, but I can definitely feel it later. This is not one of those ab workouts that will make you sweat or cry in pain, but it is still very effective though a little slow and long at times. An added bonus is all the stretching and relaxing over the ball which makes this a great workout for after work.

Balance Ball Fitness Abs is a slow-moving yet tough workout which will really challenge your abdominal and core strength. Prior to the start of the workout, instructor Suzanne Deason spends approximately 5 minutes providing basic instruction plus a few warm-up moves on the ball, including rolling the pelvis and hip areas plus draping yourself over the ball. The workout begins with some basic twists and crunch movements both sitting and lying on top of the ball. You then move to the floor on your back, placing the ball between your legs for a toe tap series both with and without arm movements; many of my Pilates videos include similar exercises. Next come two additional Pilates moves: rolling up from a lying position and doing a twist while in a seated stradle position. In these exercises, the ball really helps to assist with correct placement and form.

You will then lie on top of the ball, face down, for a series of tough moves in a plank position. Particularly difficult was forming a plank with only your toes on the ball and then rolling your knees in towards your chest--you will definitely feel this one! Following this, Suzanne does a nice relaxing side twist, but you're not quite done: the most challenging work is still to come. In the final segment, you again return to lying on the floor on your back, this time placing the ball between your feet for some moves which concentrate on the lower abs area. For the most difficult of these, you lift your hips, moving your legs overhead and setting the ball down on the floor behind you. This looks like a yoga pose, the plow, but the exercise is actually dervived from the Pilates rollover, and it requires quite a bit of prerequiste core strength. Suzanne ends the routine with a few minutes of nice back and side stretches over the ball for a total workout time of 26 minutes (not including the instruction/warm-up).

I felt that this video gave my abs a great workout, and I particularly liked the excellent lower body work towards the end. I would classify this as an intermediate abs workout, and prior experience with intermediate Pilates moves would be extremely beneficial. The setting for this workout is rather serene--an outdoor stream with soft guitar music in the background--and the pace is slow and steady, so it is not for those looking to break a sweat. However, if you want to do some concentrated work on your abdominal area with an excellent instructor, I highly recommend this video.

I've been working out for some time and let me tell you that this video actually made me sore the next day. There's one very advanced move that will take some time to master, however the rest is a really great workout.

This video does work just that its a yoga based video. Because of this you will not get results unless you use proper breathing. Also some of the yoga moves, especially towards the end, are particularly advanced. I have not mastered them yet but I think with continued use of this video I will. I like all the videos in the series because aside from just getting a good workout, they help me relax and I feel generally soothed after each one. This video is difficult so do not try it unless you have patience because you probably will not be able to do all of it the first time.

I first bought the balance ball kit with the sample video. I did that for a while so I could get used to using the balance ball. I then bought all three of the tapes that go with the balance ball. This ab workout is really great. It really works all of the ab muscles without being too hard on the body. I like this workout as a nice change of pace from aerobics, etc.

The Balance Ball Fitness - Abs workout is my favorite of all of them. After 4 kids I wanted to tone the abs to be totally flat and firm like I had before the kids. I enjoy the work out as well as it is exciting when I see how the abs are getting stronger.