Gaiam Pilates Body Sculpting Kit

VN:F [1.9.13_1145]

A half-hour Pilates routine using a small, inflatable ball to add an extra dimension to the exercises. Ana Caban instructs.

Pilates enthusiasts with some experience. Caban is a good instructor, but you need to know the basic moves already to get the most out of using the ball. In addition to the ball, you will need a mat.

Who knew that a small plastic ball would make such a big difference in a core workout? I have a love/ hate relationship with toys and gadgets — I love them when I have them, hate them when I have to drive all over town or search all over the internet for them. When it’s something that’s commonly used, like a step, or exercise tubing, or a Pilates Magic Circle, it’s worth the hunt — you’ll find multiple uses (and DVDs) for them. But some quirky item that comes with its own video often winds up tossed in a corner after a couple of weeks. This kit, however, may have some staying power. The ball adds an extra challenge to the simplest exercises. Doing the Hundred with the ball balanced between your ankles, or a one-legged Teaser with the ball between your knees. will make your core quiver. Even something simple, like standing on your toes, takes on a new dimension when you’re trying to keep the ball from flying out from your ankles. I had to work twice as hard for most of these familiar Pilates moves, when I added the ball. The only time I had to make things a little more difficult was the standing upper body work — Caban showed the exercises without weights, but they were just too easy for me, so I grabbed my trusty three-pound dumbbells (the ones I usually use for Pilates arm moves) and that did the trick. Caban, as always, instructed well, with lots of breathing cues. For a mere half-hour, this was a pretty good workout. My only suggestion to make this better would have been to have a selection of workouts with varying time frames on the DVD. That would give this kit more staying power.