02-21-15, 11:38 AM | |
Exchange Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: PalmTreeVille
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although i have Jill Miller's balls (), which are yellow, i second the pinky balls. here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-PINKY-...nce+pinky+ball in the amazon link above, read the reviews, and see what Amazon shows as "other people looked at" to give you ideas on its therapeutic use. i was really lucky to acquire Jill's CD set from a craiglist seller, similar to what is shown here, except that i got 3 CDs - UB, LB and a meditation CD, the 2 balls, a tiny mesh bag to use with the balls, and a wall chart in my kit: https://www.yogatuneup.com/lower-bod...-ball-cd-combo yes, you can just purchase some balls and figure out on your own what to do, but these CDs gave me really good ideas that i wouldn't have been able to think of on my own. Jill uses the 2 balls together. they're smaller than a tennis ball. i used to use tennis balls long ago before i got Jill's set, and occasionally, i use tennis balls. i also use golf balls for my feet. and i've also used a spiky ball for my feet, similar to this (you can type in "spiky ball" on amazon, and a variety shows up: http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Porcupi...rds=spiky+ball regarding foam roller, i had the Karen Voight kit, but it's got a slightly larger diameter. i ended up giving it to my mom, and purchased a different one for $35 through my friend who is a personal trainer at a gym. i'm used to and prefer a more intense massage, so the hard type of foam roller suits me fine. some people don't like it, though. i have this one: http://www.amazon.com/36-White-Foam-...te+foam+roller some comments about Jill's DVDs - a very generous VFer SASE'd one of her DVDs to me, and i really like it, and i found one of her DVDs at a used book store. both are different from one another - no repeated moves, and both deal with the UB. neither of them use the therapeutic balls.
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~jeannine Miyagi: Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important. [walks away, still making circular motions with hands] ~ Pat Morita, The Karate Kid, 1984 disclosure: in the years 2002-2004 i had a professional relationship with a distributor of fitness videos; see profile. |
02-21-15, 04:12 PM | |
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Atlantic Canada
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In my household we have two foam rollers and two sets of yoga tune up balls (now supplemented with two lacrosse balls). The foam rollers almost never get used. At least for the issues we have, which include hip pain/stiffness, we find the balls far more useful than the rollers. Foam rollers are great, but I find that you need to support your bodyweight in more awkward ways when using them than the balls, which can be counterproductive. For example when I'm rolling out my legs I end up tensing up my upper body and upper back from having to support so much of my bodyweight on my arms. I also find it easier to target tenseness with the balls, get very specific points like the piriformis, and reach areas that are awkward to target with a big tube of foam, like in the upper back, shoulders, and neck. My partner and I have repeatedly discussed getting rid of the foam rollers since they barely ever get used, but then we think, "ah, but we already have them." If I had it all to do over again, I would have just bought more tune-up balls instead of the rollers. Not only do we find them less useful, they we also more expensive and take up way more space.
Jill Miller's 2 DVD set has been a godsend for us. My stubborn won't-go-to-the-doctor partner went from barely being able to walk due to hip pain to mountain biking, running and hiking regularly. This is the only thing he used for therapy. If you bought four pinkie balls and tied up two of them in an old piece of pantyhose or something (in lieu of a mesh bag), you'd be all set to use this. You only use two at a time, but I like having four since sometimes she uses them alone, and sometimes together in the bag and I hate messing around putting them in and out of the bag. https://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/Jil...-Set-p/379.htm |
02-21-15, 04:50 PM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Jersey
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I am currently in physical therapy for hip pain on my right side-including the piriformis, hip flexor, tensor fascia latae, etc. I have a number of muscle imbalances contributing to this pain and lower back issues. The PT suggested rolling the areas with a tennis ball. Then I brought in Jill Miller's YTU balls - the original and these alpha balls:
https://www.totalfitnessdvds.com/Yog...ote-p/1189.htm She had never seen the YTU balls but was impressed with the Alpha Ball. The home exercise program the PT gave me includes using the alpha ball on my low back and the front of the hip. She said when it improves and is less painful I can start to use the smaller ball. She also just gave me instructions to roll my calves because she said tight calves inhibit the multifidis (sp) which stabilize the lower back. Who knew? I only have been using the balls for rolling for a little more than a week and I feel much better. BTW: Mary/total fitness also sells the individual Alpha balls. They are also available on Amazon I think but not sure if the pricing is competitive with Mary. And thanks Ebhinn for the idea of using old pantyhose for a mesh sack- I don't have one for the original YTU balls that I got years ago before she offered the mesh bags.I have the on demand pain relief DVD but have not used it yet. |
Tags |
foam roller, foam rollers, miracle balls, pinky balls, therapy ball |
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