I was hoping to find a book that had more information about using the foam rollers often used in physical therapy, but this is really set up to use the ball shown in the workout and the exercises are not necessarily transferable to other equipment.

I purchased a set of yoga body balls that came with a video. The video showed very little to do with the larger ball. I checked this book out from the library and was thrilled to see how much more you could do with it. I renewed it...and renew it again...and again. I use it and my yoga balls almost daily for pain relief. It has really helped to relieve my back and neck pain. It makes my whole day go so much smoother. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased this book as a Christmas gift along with the yoga balls for someone else. They loved it as much as I did!

This book was listed as a "better together" combination with another 'ball' product I purchased. I assumed the connection meant the same equipment would be used. It was disappointing to find that I would need to make more purchases to actually use this book. To be fair, I don't know where the fault lies, with Amazon or the book, which is why I went middle of the road with stars. Understand that on it's own this book is useless, you have to spend another $20 (at least) to use it.

This is a wonderful book to begin your foray into the wonderful world of body rolling. When I purchased this, I bought the red ball AND the yellow ball. The yellow ball is to be used if the red ball (smaller) is too painful. Also it is recommended to take air out of the balls if the balls are causing pain. This system is one of the most scientific approaches to releasing muscle constrictions and compression patterns in the body. She teaches rolling from origin to insertion and sets up workouts so you can roll through various layers of muscles, and always working the origin and insertion points. I purchased the total body dvd and did that for 2 weeks straight (every day). My body looked slimmer, my double chin went away, AND, I looked like I spent $2000 getting rolfed (created the dancers lift).
The only problem with this is like anything in life, you have to keep doing it to continually reap the benefits.
the benefits I felt were more energy, better breath, more freedom in my hips, legs, knees, and spine. Reducation of back and neck pain and shoulder pain. Improved posture.
I would recommend buying all her books and the starter kit with DVD and 2 balls if you really want to experience the brillance of the work and some real results!
In conclusion, this is an amazing way to get more out of your physical therapy. If you've ever rolled on the foam rollers, you know how painful it is, especially working the IT band, or the quadreceps. The ball is a much more pleasurable experience. It does take core muscle strength though. As a 10 year yogini, it was easy for me to stay on the ball. Some of my friends however, were rolling off and onto the floor. Very entertaining!
Buy the book, buy the dvd, and experience some real body changes!

I purchased the Yellow Ball kit and a couple of the DVDs as well as the Foot Savers kit and this book.

The book is full of claims that Body Rolling will be the next fitness revolution. I started to believe that this was really going to be something great, so I bought a vinyl ball at WalMart and tried the workouts. They were OK, but I thought I might get more benefit from the yellow ball she sells. I did. If you think you'd like to do this workout, I suggest you buy Yamuna's equipment.

However, be aware that the workouts are very difficult. You are working a few inches off the ground and it's awkward trying to accomodate your limbs. You have to keep readjusting your position. It takes a lot of room too. You start out in the middle of your workout space and end up all the way across the room. This disrupts the flow of the workout since you have to keep readjusting your locale, your clothes, the position of your arms and legs.

The back workout is great, but it does end up pulling your hair as you try to relax the weight of your head at an angle on the ball. She doesn't say anything about this difficulty in the book and I would have liked to know how to cope with it. As it is, I just don't relax the weight of my head as suggested at the end of the back workout.

The abdominal workout is excruciatingly painful. You've got a lot of soft organs in that area of the body and it's really tough to relax your full weight down onto the ball. I became ill after trying to do it all correctly the first time, so I suggest you take it easy.

Do follow her safety tips as you don't want to break your tailbone, floating ribs, or xyphoid process. The other instructions are very detailed, but you can get the hang of it. I took my book to Staples and had them spiral bind it for me so I could use it when I work out. (That costs less than $5.)

All in all it is beneficial, but because of its drawbacks I don't use it all that often. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but do not consider myself a chronic pain sufferer. (Fatigue is my main feature.) It may help with chronic pain, but for the average person, I don't think this system is as beneficial as it claims to be.