Product Details

• Format: NTSC, Color
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0012LUO20
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,236 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Details * Format: NTSC, Color * Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only) * Rated: NR (Not Rated) * Run Time: 30 minutes * Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews) * ASIN: B0012LUO20 * Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,383 in Movies & TV

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very gentle back program, October 22, 2011

By 

Beth Cholette "doctor_beth" (Upstate NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bender Method for a Strong Healthy Back Dvd! Bender Ball (DVD)

I've always been curious about the Bender Ball workouts, when I saw this DVD at a used book sale, I picked it up. Instructor Leslee Bender leads two background exercisers, Lucy, who displays easier modifications, and Kitty, who slightly harder variations for some of the exercises. Although Leslee performs a few of the moves herself, she mostly walks around Mari Winsor style. Leslie and crew use a Bender ball; I used this: Body Back Ball & Porcupine Massage Ball.

The Main Menu offers options for Play All with Introduction, Play All without Introduction, as well as lists all of the available chapters. I have briefly described each chapter below, adding in approximate times.

STANDING WARM-UP (2.5m)
Starting with the ball between the knees, Leslee performs a few pelvic tucks to find neutral spine. This segment also includes stretches to warm-up the lower back and arm swings to loosen the arms/shoulders.

LOWER BACK STRETCH (4m)
Coming to hands and knees, Leslee cues a cat/cow series, performing a more modified version of cow pose (stomach drawing in while the back stays flat). She also adds what she calls a "wagging tail" to this move.

SPINE STABILIZATION (3m)
The spine stabilization work is basically back strengthening work performed on the stomach. Here Leslee has you use a small towel placed under the forehead as she leads you through a series of back extensions/superman-type moves.

CORRECT SPINAL CURL (2m)
In this section, Leslee does just a few seated crunches, using the ball placed behind the low back for support.

SIDE PLANK (2m)
This work is performed with either the legs stretch or the knees bent, lifting the hips up and down.

LYING BACK EXERCISES (4m)
Here Leslee lies supine with the ball under the tailbone for a hip hiker move (raise one hip, then the other) and typewriter (moving the hips side-to-side). This is followed by a series of hip flexors stretches.

SIDE LYING CRUNCHES (4m)
This segment actually consists of side-lying hip/glutes work. Lying on your side with the ball under one ankle, you'll lift your top leg up and down, toes pointed down.

Stretch (2.5m)
To stretch, Leslee begins lying on the back for a Figure 4 stretch. She then places the ball under the upper back, stretching this area by lying back over it. The final stretches include mermaid and thread the needle.

Note that all the DVD case says that the running time for this workout is "about 30 minutes," the actual time for this workout was closer to 17 minutes.

Overall, I found this workout somewhat disappointing. I was looking for a good therapeutic video for my back, which has been getting tight at times since I recently started kettlebell work, but for me, these moves were way too basic, especially at the slow pace that Leslee sets (in particular, she spends A LOT of time on setup). In my opinion, this would be best suited to someone who is more limited in mobility or perhaps is in more active pain and thus needs a very gentle program. My final rating would be 3 1/2 stars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ease your back pain, August 9, 2009

By 

Keith Johnson (SOCA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bender Method for a Strong Healthy Back Dvd! Bender Ball (DVD)

The DVD is relatively short but does provide a great exercise routine that actually helps reduce tension and tightness in the back. Worked for me!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great for the back, July 30, 2009

By 

C B H (Ct) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bender Method for a Strong Healthy Back Dvd! Bender Ball (DVD)

I was glad to see this workout was not strenuous. I have periodic back pain and this workout makes my back feel good without a lot of strain. Contains good stretches that leave you feeling healthier and more flexible.