Bodywedge: Balance Training

I have all four BodyWedge DVDs. They are produced by Greg Twombly, so the set, music and production quality area all fine. Not outstanding, but acceptable. I like the music better in this one.

Each DVD starts out with a 10 minute instructional segment led by BW inventor, Rich Decker. He explains the 21 BW exercises, while a woman named Ann demonstrates. He gives form pointers and modifications for the exercises.

Balance Training is approximately 35 minutes long. It is supposed to be 21 exercises (and 21 reps), but I counted only 19 exercises. Nineteen was more than enough! I found this workout to be difficult. I might say advanced. It is core and balance work. While some of the moves ARE very creative using the BW, they are very tough on the wrists. I only did about ten reps of each exercise and I could see that more would be trouble for my wrists. And, although the BW surface is soft, my elbows felt squished during the planks. When doing floor planks, your weight is more distributed from your fist to your elbow. With the BW, it’s all on the elbow and that felt uncomfortable. If you have strong wrists and elbows, this won’t be a problem.

Several of the exercises with weights use compound moves. The two instructors take turns leading the exercise.

Anyway here is the list of exercises:

Crunches

Pelvic lifts

Planks with leg lift

Side planks with arm raise (rotator cuff)

Superman

Push-ups

Weighed squats standing on BW with military press

Weighted squats with waist pivots

One-legged squats with balance on BW

Seated shoulder press

Side planks with weighted arm raises (rotator cuff)

Biceps curls standing on BW

One-legged squats on floor with arm reach

Weighted lunge/shoulder press on to BW

Weighted lunge/hammer curls on to BW

Side crab walks on and off the BW with push-ups (hard to describe, but I didn’t DO them!!!)

Weighted bench press in bridge position

Bridge position with front and side leg lifts

Stretches

I’ve tried three of the four BW DVDs and none is a keeper for me yet. I have gotten more ideas about how to use the BW with my OTHER workouts. Which is why I got it in the first place!