Two toning/ cardio workouts, one 50 minutes long, the other 30 minutes, using a stability ball. There's also a 9-minute "bonus" lower body toning workout with the ball. Tanja Djelevic instructs.

Advanced beginning through intermediate exercisers. Best if you've done other stability ball workouts. You will, of course, need a stability ball. Although the upper body exercises are shown without weights, if you have any workout experience, you will probably want to use 3 to 8 lb. dumbbells.

I'm not sure why this DVD — so good in so many other aspects — misuses the term "cardio." The workouts on this DVD are half cardio/ half toning at most; more often the toning sections overshadow the cardio segments. That said, these routines will give you a great workout if you are an advanced beginning or intermediate exerciser. First, the longer routine: After a few minutes of warming up, Djelevic teaches you the cardio-ball blast that will be repeated two more times in-between toning. The first toning segment involves the upper body and although Djelevic demonstrates the moves without weights, she suggests you use them once you are more experienced. Really, the only reason you should not use weights is if you have never exercised on the ball before, so you can get used to the balance and core challenges offered by sitting on an unstable, inflatable surface while holding weights. Otherwise, you should be perfectly okay to use a pair of dumbbells appropriate to your fitness range. The second segment focuses more on back and core, while the final segment works your hamstrings and abs. The 30-minute routine has just one quick cardio blast and you spend the rest of the workout doing toning exercises and again, you can use weights if you feel you can handle it. Although the bonus routine is called "Lower Body Cardio," it's really a lower body sculpting segment — and a good one! Djelevic uses the ball in interesting ways — the moves are basic enough to be familiar to anyone, but not so routine that they are boring. Do keep in mind that she uses some twisting moves that require careful attention form; otherwise you could hurt your back.

 

This DVD is great if you're looking for an effective combination of toning and cardio that uses the stability ball. If you're looking for a 100% cardio ball workout, check out Patrick Goudeau's ball DVDs  — they are lively and all-cardio, all the time.

 

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