The FIRM Balance Trainer Kit
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List Price: Category: Sports See more product details |
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Description of The FIRM Balance Trainer Kit
The Balance Trainer is a fun, high energy workout that uses balance to its advantage to create unique exercises that keep your abs engaged during upper body, lower body and cardio moves?..so you sculpt your abs throughout the entire workout! It's a safe and versatile core training tool that helps develop core muscle groups while improving posture and balance.Sports reviews of The FIRM Balance Trainer Kit
Customer Review: Not so easy workout
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
I have several FIRM dvds and I wanted to try something different so I got this workout with the balance footpad. This workout takes good balance, which I don't have, so I didn't feel like I got a good burn because I couldn't do most of the moves correctly. This dvd is more of a toning exercise for your core with some mild cardio. The "balance trainer" is basically a hard plastic balloon that you have to inflate(there is a hand pump included), that's a workout in it's self. I would say it's the size of a standard dinner plate, about 10 inches in diameter. I thought maybe it had a base on the bottom and only the top part was the balloon part. That's not the case, it is rounded on both sides, so it's basically like standing on a whoopie cushion.
There are moves where you have to balance on one leg on the footpad which is difficult because the surface is not flat. I wouldn't reccomend this workout for anyone who has knee or ankle problems because you have to balance your whole body weight on this "green balloon", which can put a strain on the body. There is also a move where you have to hop up on the footpad and step down. There are some lunges with one foot on the pad and the other leg lunging back on the floor, it was hard to keep my balance on those. Then you have to stand on the footpad with both feet and squat down; that's a killer. Then there are the push-ups with one hand on the balance trainer and one hand on the floor. And of course everyone's favorite, the plank position with your arms resting on the balance trainer(OUCH).
It was fun even though it was a struggle, I had to laugh at myself because I fell of the footpad several times. I will put it in my rotation and hopefully over time I will be able to perfect the moves. I would say it's worth a try.
Customer Review: Quite a challenge
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
I own most of the Firm videos, and this one presents it's own unique set of challenges.
Getting started, I found that blowing up the balance trainer with the enclosed pump was difficult. Using a bike pump and the included metal needle insert proved to be the easiest way to inflate it.
The workout itself was really tricky. It will probably take me many tries to even get close to mastering it. My balance and core muscles were seriously challenged. My heart rate did get raised, but the biggest challenge was in dealing with the balance trainer. There's a jump/straddle move that I was even too chicken to try. I worry about twisting my ankle on this thing! I'll probably deflate the trainer just a bit before trying it again.
My only other complaint is that Tina's cueing isn't great, and she doesn't pay much attention to matching her steps to the beat of the music. This makes the workout harder, as I spent less time keeping an eye on the screen in order to watch my feet with the trainer.
Despite my struggles with this workout, it was nice to do something different and to be challenged in a new way. If you're tired of the same old step box routine and tons of crunches on the floor, this is a great way to mix it up. And despite it's challenging moves, Tina does give you options for easier steps and positions.
The balance trainer is about 12-13 inches in diameter (depending on how much you inflate it), so it doesn't take up much space. The main workout is 46 minutes, and the express version is 25 minutes.
This isn't my favorite Firm workout, and if I could give it 2 1/2 stars, I would. However, it's nice to have something different to do now and again.
Customer Review: Disappointed.....
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
I've been working out with The FIRM products for almost 3 years now. I was HUGELY disappointed in the Balance Trainer workout DVD, however.
My first frustration is that whoever directed or edited this DVD chose not to show full body shots, INCLUDING THE FOOTWORK (which is critical), on this workout. Many times I was unable to get back in step, also, because Tina's direction was SO POOR and the steps were not choreographed to match the beat to the music.
I will probably continue to use the workout, but I may just fast forward to the abs / floor workout components which were quite challenging.
Huge disappointment, as I said.
Customer Review: Pretty OK
Sport shop rating: 3 Stars
I am an avid FIRM user and I was really excited to have something new to add to the collection. I was pretty confused at first because some of the moves are not exactly coordinated to the music at hand. She moves a little fast for beginners, but once you watch it a time or two you get pretty good at it. I would recommend this for a change when you want a slower paced, not-so-intense workout.Customer Review: Horrible quality - typical Firm?
Sport shop rating: 2 Stars
This balance trainer is the biggest piece of crap I've ever seen. The pump is a total joke. You cannot pump this up with it. You have to either use a bicycle pump or air compressor. However, once you have it finally inflated, it then slowly leaks air out of the little hole where the air is supposed to go in. There is no plug to close the hole. Horrible, horrible quality, total rip-off.
The DVD is so so. Not bad, but not great either. I bet a real BOSU trainer would be good with it. But had I known, how poorly the trainer is manufactured, I would not have wasted my money on this.