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

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25829 in Sports & Outdoors
• Size: 65
• Color: Green
• Brand: Gaiam
• Model: 199-1403GREEN
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 3.10 pounds

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

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, eco-friendly 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

Customer Reviews

75cm?
I bought a 75cm ball from Target the other day. I inflated it to find that it was only 45cm... I took it back and grabbed a second. This ball was also 45cm. I would be concerned with getting one on Amazon, as it may need to be returned...

Peaceful Settings
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

ball good, pump is junk
The ball seems fine, but the pump broke the second day I used it.Now it looks like I will have to pay another $20 or so to get another (? better) pump shipped, and have not been able to really use my underinflated ball. It was a bad choice