( 7 reviews )
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Posted: Mar 14 2009
I am a smidgen over 5 ft tall, and the 55 cm ball is the size that the manufacturer recommends for my height (and for people up to 5'5"!). However, I found that it was much too small for the exercises on the accompanying DVD--my knees were practically up to my chin. Fortunately, a friend gave me a considerably larger stability ball that works well for the exercises. I am sorry that I didn't try out balance balls at a local sporting-goods store to see which size was best for me.
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Posted: Feb 2 2009
I like using my balance ball as a companion to other exercises (particularly as an add-on to Wii My Fitness Coach). But as a stand-alone this item is wanting. The DVD is much too hard for a beginner, despite the fact that it says it's made for all fitness levels. Plus, although I am only 5'2, the 55cm ball seems a bit small. I have to reinflate it frequently to make sure it's at maximum capacity or it becomes way too small to use. It is a pretty color, though, and having both the ball and the fitness band makes it a good deal for the price.
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Posted: Jan 18 2009
The Product: Gaiam Total Body Balance Ball Kitt (small, purple), with bonus video and exercise band (latex). I just bought this kit today, so I cannot remark on the quality of the ball exercises. I'm 5'3" and I too thought the ball was too small when I first inflated it. INFLATING THE BALL I did an online search regarding the ball sizing and was surprised how consistently most sites recommended the small (55cm) ball for my height. So then I googled "55 cm in inches" and saw that it should be almost 22 inches in diameter. When I measured my ball, it was only 16.5 inches in diameter! I had pumped it using the included hand pump until it was leaking air, which I thought meant it was at capacity. But then, I found out that new balls are usually very hard to fully inflate on the first try. So, I went to work and got my first upper body work out--inflating the ball. It took me perhaps 20 minutes and several resting breaks to get the ball up to 20 inches in diameter (actually 20.7 inches in diameter based upon a measurement of the circumference). Now, when I sit on the ball, my knees are lower than my hips and my thighs slope downward. When I roll back on the ball, I can stretch my whole back and rest my head on the ball. I may keep it at 20.5 or so inches, which is very firm already. DVD - Tanja Djelevic I think the instructor is fine. It is too bad she has to talk during the work out since it seems to mess up her own concentration. My main gripe about this video is that the audio keeps cutting out for 2-3 minute spans at a time. I'm sure it is probably a fluke defect and I will contact Gaiam for a replacement. Bonus DVD - Suzanne Deason I liked the focus of this video much better and its AV quality was what you'd expect. The instructor uses a voice over so that when she demonstrates, she is fully concentrating and not talking. But it is a "sample" or "taster" of 3 other full length videos. Although it does have short "workouts," I think it is more designed as a selling tool for these other 3 full length videos. LATEX EXERCISE BAND It's a latex exercise band -- Gray. I'm latex sensitive and the packaging doesn't say anything about latex, but then, running shoes don't come with any warning either. But if you're sensitive, be warned... It comes in its own polyethylene baggie, so just don't open it.
