Customer Reviews

Balance Ball For Weight Loss

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you've ever taken yoga or pilates, or have any idea at all what these things might entail, you know that one could comfortably refer to these as the subtle excercise arts. It simply is not cardio. It isn't step. This is a toning workout, as pilates and yoga often are.

The narration on the video is very soothing, and thus may be listened to over and over again--very convenient as this is an excercise video. The narration contains no repetitive catch phrases, no yee-haws and aerobic woopings. Simple, calming, relaxing instruction, period.

True to its pilates roots, this tape encourages the use and development of the core muscles to stabalize the body while working all the major muscle groups. Many of the moves are challenging for a first-timer, but this just means that the tape will continue to be beneficial over a long period of time.

If you're looking for something Paula Abdul-ish, an early 90's step aerobics with lots of cardio, shouting, loud techno beats, garish outfits and fake tans, please don't buy this very relaxing yet physically challenging video.

This is a fun workout! The best part is you can choose several different short 10-15 min. routines and put them in any order through the menu interface! Wow, what a lovely way to do it. You choose the sequence. It's not choppy like some of the other DVD's I've tried with this function.

I love ball workouts. I'm not a big lover of pilates, but this one is great! Most of it is fairly easy, but you make it what you will like any exersize routines. Some of her bridge poses are a bit difficult, so it does have some challenges.

Well worth the money if you're looking for a good balance ball routine. Check my other reviews on ball DVD's, yoga, mediation, etc.

I really love this workout. I have fibromyalgia and since I've discovered the exercise ball, it has changed my workouts for the better. I like all the ball workouts from Gaiam that I've tried. This DVD is no exception. It provides clear, concise instructions. The exercises flow from one to the other. I've found that I feel invigorated and toned after finishing this workout although it is also gentle due to the nature of the exercise ball supporting the body in every aspect. It is more challenging than a basic workout and you can adjust the intensity of the exercises. One thing I've found very convenient about this particular DVD is that each exercise is its own chapter. Therefore if you want to skip an exercise you can just go to the next chapter instead of scanning through the current exercise. Also you can pick and choose which sections you want to do by choosing the "Custom" option on the main menu. There are three sections, the first concentrating on abs and upper body, the second on the lower body and various Pilates moves using the ball, and the last section a combination of allover body workout and stretching. There is also a "fundamentals" section at the beginning to show correct placement on the ball and the basics of positioning, etc. If you do the whole thing it takes about 45 minutes.

I love Gaiam products. I especailly love working out on my balance ball. What I don't like is this video. I can't watch more than 5 minutes of it, it's far too boring and doesn't even catch my interests, let alone keep them. I don't feel worked out after I do suffer through the entire thing. Do yourself a favor, use the money you were going to spend on this video and buy the Balance Ball for Beginners. It's slighty more interesting and you will feel like you've worked out the next day.

I am a huge pilates fan, so when my husband picked up this video for me I thought using a balance ball would give me an extra workout. While I do love my balance ball, this video was so slow, and not challenging one bit. There was maybe one or two excercises that I found challenging.

If you are not a regular excerciser, maybe this is a good starting point, but for me, I felt like I wasted an hour of my day without getting a workout. Skip it if you are looking for a challenging video.

I have to laugh when people say this isn't a good workout-CLEARLY YOU ARE NOT ENGAGING YOUR MUSCLES PROPERLY!!!! Anytime anyone says "a workout is too easy", it is usually because they are doing it incorrectly. I've been an avid excerciser in many disciplines for over 20 years and am definitely lean and fit. This one leaves me feeling "worked out"-kind of like how you feel after swimming a bunch of laps after not having swam for a while. I could see if you didn't keep your hips high when leaning back on the ball, or lose your focus on tightening all of your muscles and really reaching, this could seem pointless. A good understanding of pilates principles is important in order to get the most out of this workout. In a nutshell-totally worth it if you want long sculpted muscles and good flexibility, and it's a decent calorie burner too if the effort is truly there.

I am very pleased with this DVD. Susan has a very calming quality to her voice, gives just enough instruction without being chatty. I have been using the DVD less than a month and am already seeing and feeling results. The moves are easy enough as not to be intimidating but challenging enough that I have to work. All moves are doable -except for the "teaser", but can definitely feel that I have worked my core muscles.

I've never worked on a balanceball before, so thought I'd pick this dvd up. I have to be real careful to not use wts, as I have chronic myofascial pain, I also have fibro, for anyone considering if they should try this or not. I really love it! I stretch as much, or sometimes NOt as much as I can, whatever suits me at that time. I always feel so good about myself and my balance after doing this workout. I know that out of all my video's, this is my favorite. It's 50 min, which if someone told me that, I wouldn't even bother, but it's very relaxed and slow stretches. At this time and point, I think this is the best exercise for me. Kathy Smith was my all time favorite and 'The Firm', but I can no longer do those anymore,. I no longer feel that I'm 'missing out' of my workouts, this one is great and I can actually keep up with it! I hope you try this, it may be the best for you too. Thank-you Suzanne for helping me to feel good again.

I have used other body ball dvd's and this one is really to boring compared to all of them. If you give it time, the workouts do test you a little bit, but thats if you dont fall asleep first! But if your the calm type that dosent like to much of action in a workout then get this dvd. Its soothing for that matter.

I love my new stability ball and I love to exercise. I do not, however, love this DVD. I tolerate it and that's about it!

The best aspect of the DVD is that it is easy to navigate. There is an introduction, a section of fundamentals, and three pilates-based exercise routines (warm-up, core, upper body). I do like that you can select the sections you want to do in order to create your own workout.

I like to be lead through instruction. That way it feels like you are in an exercise class and is more "personal". In this video, the instructor used voice-over after the fact to give the instructions. I just find it a bit eery to watch an stone-faced instructor while a disembodied voice tells me to inhale and exhale!

I also find the title a bit misleading. I don't think you would lose a lot of weight doing this video alone as it is toning and not cardio at all. It also has a bit of a "New Age" vibe to it, which is a turn-off to me.

If you are a beginning exerciser and the above problems don't both you, this DVD may be appropriate for you.