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Gaiam Balance Ball Beginner Kit (Medium, Green)
 
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Gaiam Balance Ball Beginner Kit (Medium, Green)

by Gaiam
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


The Gaiam Store
Visit the Gaiam Store to see our entire selection of yoga and Pilates equipment, weight loss and fitness DVDs, and more.


Product Features

  • Includes a 65-cm Balance Ball, air pump, and instructional DVD
  • 65-cm ball is suitable for people up to 5'11" tall
  • Great for working on your abs, toning, and strength exercises
  • Ball is non-toxic, durable, resilient, and weight tested up to 600 pounds

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Ideal for stretching, toning, and using in aerobic exercises, Gaiam's Balance Ball Beginner Kit will provide a fun low-impact workout. It includes a green 65-centimeter inflatable ball, a sampler workout on DVD, and an air pump. This versatile piece of exercise equipment adds variety to home workouts and comfortably supports your body for working on your abs, sculpting sequences, developing toning and strength, and much more. The 65-centimeter ball is suitable for people up to 5'11" tall.

About Gaiam
Gaiam was created as a lifestyle company with the vision that, given a choice, people would choose a lifestyle that is healthy and life enhancing, for themselves, their families and the Earth. The Gaiam lifestyle is a vote for individual health as well as the future sustainability of the Earth’s resources. Gaiam strives to provide customers with alternatives to traditional products by offering natural, or healthy versions that compare with the style, quality and price of conventional products.

Gaiam’s goal is to become the trusted source and unifying brand for Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) participants. They understand that the opportunity to affect people’s lives with information and products is both a privilege and a responsibility. Gaiam believes in the concept of Conscious Commerce, the practice of making purchasing decisions based on personal values and beliefs. It takes into consideration all the aspects of our lives and the impact we have upon the planet. Research indicates this concept appeals to approximately 50 million people in the U.S. alone. Gaiam's strategy in delivering the distinctive quality for which they are known is to partner with experts in health/wellness, eco-living and personal development to develop proprietary products that meet our customers’ needs with meaningful solutions.

The name GAIAM is a fusion of the words Gaia (the name of Mother Earth from the Minoan civilization in ancient Crete), and I am reminds us that we are all interconnected with the Earth, the air and water, and very much a part of this living system that sustains us all.

What's in the Box?
Balance Ball, DVD with three workouts, air pump

Product Description

Helps to enhances flexibility, balance and coordination; increases range of motion and will boost your overall strength. Use it as a compliment to your normal exercise or on its own as a total workout. Sturdy vinyl material has been weight tested to hold up to 300lbs. Includes BalanceBall Compilation Sampler DVD containing three guided workouts from the award-winning instructor Suzanne Deason and an air pump. Available in three sizes: Small Purple (22"/55cm), Height: Fits 5"0"-5"5"; Medium Green (26"/65cm), Height: 5"6"-5"11"; Large Blue (30"/75cm), Height: 6"0"-6"3".

Product Details

  • Item Weight: 3.1 pounds
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
  • Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
  • ASIN: B00004U8H7
  • Item model number: 199-1403GREEN
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,402 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
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Customer Reviews

23 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Livingarts Balanceball Kit, November 3, 2000
By 
LR Reed (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gaiam Balance Ball Beginner Kit (Medium, Green) (Sports)
Effective, introduction video for those new to "The Ball."

It's an odd mix of good and bad in this starter video. The instructor's voice-overs properly cue the exerciser and we can easily see and understand her movements. However, the kit states "40 minutes" yet really yields a max of 30 minutes. This includes a lot of stretching and concentration-intensive moves. The background settings are breath-taking but are ruined by horrible, tinny music which I found distracting, at best.

The video includes no instructions as to the care or preparation for the equipment. This is especially a bad decision since there's no pamphlet inside. Granted, one can figure it out but I was surprised at this oversight.

This video was set up to whet the appetite of the viewer. There's info at the end on how to order the full series of 3 videos: lower body, abs and upper body. It is pleasant and varied enough to follow a few times however, I suggest muting the volume after you've developed an understanding of usage.

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Peaceful Settings, February 5, 2007
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Gaiam Balance Ball Beginner Kit (Medium, Green) (Sports)
Your first observation might be similar to mine. The outdoor setting is calming and just gorgeous. The colors in this video are beautiful and the river creates a calm, quiet and peaceful setting for your workout.

I enjoyed the workout, but didn't realize how many muscles you needed to perch yourself atop a balance ball. You start off just rolling over the ball and then progress to some pretty tough balancing acts. There are some stretches which will stretch out your spine in new ways. I realized I'm not as flexible as I thought I was.

I'd advise watching this video at least once before proceeding because it sometimes difficult to follow the workout while attempting to focus on not hurtling towards the floor if you are not totally focused on what you are doing.

The kit includes:

Medium inflatable exercise ball (green, 26"/65cm)
Full-length workout video (35 minutes)
Air pump

The Air pump is "ok," but I found that an electric pump was much more efficient. If you use the air pump, you might want to do that "workout" the day before. The instruction scare you into worrying about inflating the ball too much, but never fear, with that pump, it might be impossible.

The medium exercise ball is "ok" but had I realized there was a larger balance ball, I'd have ordered the larger one since I'm taller. If you are 5' 9" and above, I'd say go for the blue balance ball (large size). I think weight also counts. If you are above your recommended weight (ideal weight and all that), then you might want a larger size.

On the side of the box it says:

Small Purple Balance Ball - Height 5' 0" to 5' 5" - Ball Size 22"/55cm
Medium Green Balance Ball - Height 5' 6 to 5' 11" - Ball Size 26"/65cm
Large Blue Balance Ball - Height 6' 0" to 6' 3" - Ball Size 30"/75cm

The exercise video is combination of shorter segments from three balance ball workouts. You really have to concentrate on making smooth and steady movements.

The way I found this workout to be most effective was to place the ball on top of a yoga mat. This prevents slippage of the ball on a carpet and also prevents you from getting injured because the yoga mat provides an additional level of protection from your hands and feet slipping on a carpet.

You will be doing three workouts.

Upper Body
Abs
Lower Body

There are times when you are either sitting, leaning over the ball or on your back, balancing and stretching out your spine. The hardest part of this workout is when you are on you back and you are rolling on top the ball. It is easier once you make full use of your powers of concentration.

The video is a nice introduction, but is really only an introduction. While you can get a good beginner's workout, I'd imagine it is more effective to order the three additional videos they recommend. Karen Voight also has a DVD out called BLT (Butt, Legs & Tummy) on a ball.

This workout will take you to new levels of concentration and mind-body awareness. It will work the upper body, lower body and abs. You will be strengthening, toning and conditioning smaller core muscles.

The 45 minutes includes a 5-minute warm-up to learn proper positioning.

If you enjoy this workout, look for:

BalanceBall Fitness Upper Body Workout
BalanceBall Fitness Abs Workout
BalanceBall Fitness Lower Body Workout

~The Rebecca Review
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice ball, but..., September 14, 2005
By 
Tina C. (Northern California) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
I purchased this product to strengthen my muscles and help relieve my chronic lower back pain. I have a Gaiam yoga DVD that I have enjoyed, but was looking for a different exercise program. Chose the balance ball on the recommendation of a friend.

The ball is nice and thick, but the pump is a workout all by itself. I eventually pumped up the ball using a powerful electric air compressor.

The DVD says a 50-minute full body workout, but there is actually 3 workouts -- a 30-minute full body workout (lower, abs, and upper) and two 10-minute workouts, one for muscle stretching and one for stress relief. The 30-minute workout is fine, but I felt I needed more (the other two workouts are more for warming up or just relieving muscle tension). There is a promotion on the DVD for additional Gaiam DVDs you can buy that target the three specific areas more in-depth. I bought an On the Ball Pilates Workout for Beginners DVD at the same time I purchased the ball, so I will see if that gives me the workout I am looking for.

The ball is a great product and the DVD is a nice benefit, basically introducing you to some ball exercises, but you'll probably need an additional DVD for more of a workout.
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