The Elaine Petrone Method - Stop the Clock

Elaine Petrone
Year Released: 2007

Categories: Special Health Conditions



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I have owned the The Miracle Ball Method balls and small instructional booklet for some time now, as I am a big fan of self-therapy and self-massage work. However, I have a much harder time following routines from a book, and so I rarely used the balls the "official" way outlined by Elaine Petrone in her book. I had been interested in obtaining one of her videos for years, and I finally had the opportunity to do so upon stumbling across it at a used book sale.

The Main Menu of this DVD offers options for Play Program - Program Index - Elaine's Story - Biography. The Program Index begins with a brief introduction by Petrone in which she explains that she came to this method after being injured as a dancer and searching for alternative methods of healing when traditional medicine failed her. She further emphasizes that the Miracle Ball Method involves doing LESS--i.e., it is neither exercising nor stretching. I've described the remaining three chapters of the Program below.

BODY FORMULA (12 minutes)
Here Petrone works with two background exercisers, Greg and Sylvia, introducing the use of breathing techniques to reduce stress. Petrone explains that the balls help increase flexibility by giving into gravity, but first, she has Greg and Sylvia start seated without using the balls. They begin with a simple observation exercise (eyes closed), then move on to exhaling making an "hhh" sound. Next is turning the next to the side (tighter side first) and hanging the head forward, then handing the whole body forward; repeat on the second side. The last exercise is reaching the arms up and turning the neck and shoulders.

ON THE BALL (28 minutes)
Petrone states that this segment will help to fight three signs of premature aging: 1) a rounded upper back, 2) a protruding lower belly, and 3) loss of muscle tone. Again, she works with Greg and Sylvia, who are now lying on elevated platforms with their balls accessible (only one ball is used). The first movement is elbow on the ball, in which one elbow (tight side first) is placed at a right angle on the ball. Petrone states that this mainly helps release the neck and shoulders but also the low back as well. She encourages participants to find the spot that is right for them. This is performed a total of three times of the tight side, and before moving to the second side, Petrone has Greg and Sylvia place the ball under their necks. Removing the ball, the head is moved from side-to-side, and then elbow under ball is performed on the second side. Petrone continually reminds the participants to breathe with a "sss" or "hhh" sound so that they do not hold the breath. The final move in this sequence is the ball under the pelvis; this is supposed to allow the belly to flatten.

FULL BODY MOVES (6 minutes)
In this section, Greg and Sylvia return to seated, and the balls are not used. Petrone further explains how this method involves "stretching without stretching." She encourages participants to take note of any changes in their bodies. They conclude by hanging forward in both sitting and standing positions.

In addition to the above, this DVD includes an interview with Petrone in which she describes her leg injury and how that led to the Elaine Petrone Method in greater detail, and there is also an on-screen Biography providing similar information about the background of her method.

I definitely think that there is value to the Miracle Ball Method. The focus on breathing and body awareness is an excellent means to foster increased relaxation, both mental and physical. Despite this, the DVD was rather disappointing. A brief separate tutorial could have been included on the breathing methods used in the routine. The On the Ball segment, while lengthy, was repetitive, covering only a few moves with the ball. I think that most viewers would appreciate a more comprehensive DVD which served more as a companion to the original Miracle Method book.

Instructor Comments:
I think Elaine has a great personal story. Her personality is very low-key as well, and she provides good tips and instruction here (she teaches but does not do the moves herself). However, the DVD winds up feeling much more instructional than something that can be used follow-along; there is A LOT of talking that I think would really feel cumbersome upon repeated viewings.

Beth C (aka toaster)

05/26/2015