Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony
• VHS Release Date: December 7, 2000
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000520HM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #263,785 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Now you can add a powerful new dimension to your workout without ever setting foot in a gym! Not only does the air-cushioned exercise ball help build spectacular abs and a tight, sexy lower body, it provides essential functional conditioning for athletic performance and low back health. Kathy’s new workout covers everything you need to make your exercise ball the most versatile training tool since the hand weight!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good toning - if you work at it, January 25, 2001

By 

lizzieflee (Mid-Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathy Smith Timesaver Shaper Ball Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Reading that a shaper ball workout is good for those with lower back problems, I asked for and received a ball/tape combo for Christmas. The video tape the combo came with was not very clear, so I was overjoyed when Kathy Smith developed this workout. Balls are really the rage and I've seen them at gyms and in retail stores.

1 - The workout definately allows you to do exercises that may be painful otherwise. I was stretching my full abdominal cage muscles, both upper and lower. You really get a full lower back workout, which is where I needed to focus.

2 - Kathy Smith takes some precious time to review the moves, which is fine when you are first beginning. However, once you have the moves down, I would recommend to begin as soon as she moves to a different position, to get the most out of your workout.

3 - This is not a cardio-buster workout by any means. While my body felt well stretched and worked, my heart rate stayed only slightly elevated. I would recommend pairing this video with a strong walk or an upper body weight session to get your heart rate up.

4 - The more you do the exercise (which falls in the category sculpting and toning-according to Kathy's category)with the ball, the more stable and firm you become. At first I was wiggling all over the place on the ball. You can't believe how much stablizing you do to keep yourself still to focus on the move itself.

5 - This is a good balance and toning tape, and I would recommend it to those who want a low impact, yet strengthening routine. One thing I am disappointed in is that she doesn't do push-ups off the ball, which is very easy to do (and on my first tape).

I'm used to high cardio workouts using the Firm tapes or Kathy's cardio tapes. It really brings it down a notch, so don't be disappointed if it's not the fast pace you are used to. Another problem is that she doesn't tell you how much air to put in the ball, which according to my manufacturer's instructions, says, "sit on the ball so that your legs are at a right angle to the floor." It took several times to get the air just right.

And one more thing - for those who have several Kathy Smith workouts - she still does the "high five" at the beginning, but this time with the ball! Kind of corny, but a Kathy Smith tape wouldn't be the same without it!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Strange, March 13, 2002

By 

April Blake (Genesee, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kathy Smith Timesaver Shaper Ball Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I like working out with my shaper ball because it makes exercise seem more like fun and less like punishment. But because I needed more guidance on this new piece of equipment than was provided on the chart that came with it, I turned to Kathy Smith, my fitness guru for guidance. I thought, Kathy has not yet led me astray, and I bought this video without question.

Granted, the living room backdrop isn't too inspiring, but that would be easy to overlook, if only...

The atmosphere on this tape is very odd, from the moment Kathy introduces her friend, a muscular man in bike shorts, to the end of the cooldown stretches. More than is necessary, Kathy puts in infomercial-like plugs for the shaper ball, which, presumably, if someone bought this tape, wouldn't they already own and love their shaperball? Another thing that adds an element of "weird" to this tape is that Kathy's friend talks too much for an exercise video. There seems to be this weird flirtation between the two of them. Imagine if you will, the ninth grade JV basketball player who has a crush on the senior girl who's captain of the cheerleading squad. That's what you have here on this tape.

But the exercises! Once you get past the flirtation and the infomercial, the exercises would be pretty good for a beginner or someone who wants to have a less-intense exercise day, but still put their body in motion. Maybe the thing to do would be to go through the tape twice, and then you'd get a rigorous workout. It certainly isn't up to the standards of the other Kathy Smith videos I know and love.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected more, May 16, 2001

By 

"matata_99" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kathy Smith Timesaver Shaper Ball Workout [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have many of Kathy Smith's tapes and enjoy each one of them. When I saw that she had a tape on using the shaper ball, I was ecstatic. I bought it, got prepared to workout and I must say that I was disappointed. I expected more from her. The video is too short, the exercises are not done for a long period of time and I didn't feel anything at the end. The only good thing about the video is it acts as a guideline for exercises you can do on your own. She gives you quite a few. I recommend that you do the exercises on your own and for a longer period of time. I found this helped me. To sum up, buy the tape if you are looking for a guideline and exercises to try on your shaper ball. Do not buy the tape if you are just going to follow the half hour routine.