This is a 30-minute video that uses the Balance Ball (basically, a Flexaball) to focus on working the abs. This is a Living Arts production. It is of course beautifully produced. It is filmed on a platform in the woods overlooking a stream. The music is soft piano/instrumental. Suzanne Deason uses a Balance Ball placed on a yoga mat. You could do the workout without the mat, but I find that on my carpeted floors the mat helps me not to slip. I would call the difficulty level intermediate overall, but as with all ball workouts the farther from your center you place the ball, the more difficult the workouts will be. Beginners could do this as well, using modifications that Suzanne describes and demonstrates very well.

First is the warm-up/instructional section. This consists of getting properly positioned on the ball, some pelvic tilts sitting on the ball, rolling back and forth over the ball on your stomach, and doing a back-bending stretch over the ball. I sometimes do this part, but usually I'm warm from cardio or strength, so I often skip it. This section is 5 minutes long, and it is identical to the warm ups on the other Living Arts Ball tapes. Suzanne must have filmed this identical sequence three times, because she's wearing different outfits on each of the tapes.

The body of the workout (25 minutes long) starts out with a short segment of traditional crunches and oblique work lying on the ball. There are some great stabilization moves, reverse crunches with bent and straight legs with the ball between your knees, and a really challenging move where you roll your lower body into a plough position over your head with the ball between your knees. It's tough, but Suzanne shows a modification first that you can stick with if you need to. The moves are very reminiscent of Pilates, with roll-ups and such. There are nice stabilization moves. There is minimal work for the lower back, but Suzanne makes up for this on the Upper Body tape. All of the exercises are done in a very slow and controlled manner.

This isn't a "blast your abs" type workout, but it will really help you to develop core strength. It's a nice change of pace from other abs tapes, and it's so relaxing to do! The feeling I have after doing this tape is similar to what I feel after I do Method tapes--I feel like my posture is better and that my abdomen is flatter (probably an illusion, but works for me! :-) ).The setting and the music add so much to this tape. It's a good one!

Instructor Comments:
Every time Suzanne Deason comes out with a new video, I like her better and better. She is a certified Yoga and Pilates teacher, and it shows in the Balance Ball workouts. Her voice is relaxing, her cuing is precise, and her form is excellent. I'd love to see her do a Balance Ball video dedicated entirely to stretching.

Kristin Aziz