Miracle Balls

Part of the equation for getting lean is to get strong. Sometimes, getter stronger results in sore muscles. Most of us like a little soreness after we exercise because we feel like we've worked hard and will have results to show for the time and energy we invested. But what happens when the soreness persists and becomes a lingering ache, or worse, a chronic pain?

Enter The Miracle Ball Method, by Elaine Petrone.

I discovered The Miracle Ball Method: Relieve Your Pain, Reshape Your Body, Reduce Your Stress [2 Miracle Balls Included] after investigating methods for relieving soreness in the lower back and hamstrings. I spent a little over $12 to find out if Petrone's method would do the trick, and I'm happy to report it did!

The two squishy little balls come with a small book that has instructions and photographs of Petrone demonstrating the techniques she developed. She explains, "The actual method is simple: You place your weight on the balls and feel your body give in to them."

Petrone emphasizes breathing fully which oxygenates the muscles and promotes relaxation. She says, "I have found that if you breathe fully while allowing yourself to feel the weight of your body, you enable your muscles to relax and you experience immense relief.

After a quick look through the book, I pulled out my yoga mat and situated the balls under my low back, one on either side of my spine. After five minutes of deep breathing I felt like I had a new back. I moved the balls down an inch and repeated the deep breathing. An inch at a time, I worked the balls down my legs, trying my best to relax fully and let gravity take over. The following day, my hamstrings felt great and I experienced a personal best during my workout.

I'm hooked on the Miracle Ball Method and have tried different variations. My favorite way to use the balls is to place one under my tailbone and one under my neck. I stretch my legs out, close my eyes and simply relax. I feel like I'm getting a stretch, a massage and a nap all at once. I also like to place the balls between my shoulder blades to stretch my upper back and relieve tension.

A clear upside to this method is safety. While there is a feeling of stretching, there's no reason to ever feel discomfort. Experiment with the placement of the balls to see what feels best for your body. Some days you might want to focus on your lower back, other days you might want to focus on your calves, or elsewhere. It's up to you. The main thing is to relax and breathe.

If time permits, use the balls for a few minutes in the morning and the evening. Doing so will allow you to start your day with energy and improved posture; and end your day feeling relaxed and de-stressed.

Spending a few minutes in the evening with the miracle balls could result in a better night's sleep too. Now you're really on your way to getting lean.