The Miracle Ball Method: Relieve Your Pain, Reshape Your Body, Reduce Your Stress [2 Miracle Balls Included]

by Elaine Petrone

Take two-they're small. And they perform miracles. Suffering a career-ending, potentially crippling injury to her back and right leg, a young dancer named Elaine Petrone tried everyone from orthopedists to yogis to turn her pain and prognosis around. Nothing worked-until she healed herself through a unique program of therapy and exercise based around the use of two small, squishy balls. From there she turned her passion into a mission that is helping the thousands of people who visit her classes conquer pain, stress, and injury.

Now, for relief for sufferers everywhere, comes The Miracle Ball Method , a healing kit containing two miracle balls (each should be around 4-1/2 to 4-1/4" in diameter) and a fully illustrated book, all packaged together in an attention-getting clear plastic cylinder. The work itself is simple. Take a sore By resting your aching back on the grapefruit-sized balls and letting your body sink into them, you're unworking the muscles that hurt. Pain and tension drain out of the body. Petrone shows how proper breathing (which she demonstrates) works in conjunction with a range of unexercises that call for placing the balls under the back, head, knees, hip, elbow-wherever there's pain-and then resting, rolling, or rotating on them. She points out that relief can come in surprising Lower back pain may be helped by placing the ball under your neck, or a bad knee might be helped by hip work. It's a revolutionary program of relief, from head to toe.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Fitness, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Laura✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been following the “method” for about a month. I haven’t felt much of a difference, but I also don’t use them for hours (she mentions laying on them herself for 4-6 hours a day in the intro — who has time for that?!). They are good for relieving a few targeted tight muscles but they don’t address everything and will not “reshape your body” as the cover claims.

[Two Readers in Love]

The technique in the “Miracle Ball Method” is deceptively simple, but it works. The author, an injured dancer who was inspired by multiple bodywork techniques/traditions in a quest to relieve her own pain, shows you how to simply relax and tune into letting your body take the lead in realigning itself. Her secret weapons: deep breathing and two little squishy balls (I know, that doesn’t sound quite right does it?)

This is a tiny book, and the author doesn’t waste any time with a bunch of pseudo-scientific or pseudo-spiritual framing of the technique, so at first I thought it was too easy to actually work. But when I took the time and tried the exercises shown, the results slowly and subtly transformed the way I carry my body. The cliché is that ‘this book changed my life’ – well, this book changed the recalcitrant pain in my right hamstring, which may be a bit less profound, but for which I am still profoundly grateful!

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually found and started using the “Portable Miracle Ball Method” before buying the full “Miracle Ball Method.” The little kit comes with one small squishy ball, a small book of exercises, and a mesh bag. The travel version has fewer exercises than in the full “Miracle Ball Method” (and most of them are the same as in the full book), but the results are still excellent; after finally escaping after 5 hours grounded on the tarmac in coach, it was the perfect tool to remove all the kinks in my legs.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any time I have a stiff neck, lower back pain or seemingly inflexible movement in my back or hips, I use these amazing balls and the exercises Ms. Petrone has developed. To me, this has the feel of being your own chiropractor.

For me, this is a safe, stress free and gradual means of easing stress and pain from too much driving, back strain and other spine or hip issues. It really is effective and helpful.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great friend of mine gave me this as a gift and it's been such a wonderful tool. I find the instructional book as well as the exercises to be so very simplified, that they are now a regular part of my day. I keep a ball near my bed, near my desk chair and one in the car.

4 stars for the instructional book
5 stars for the miracle balls

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is really good at explaining and describing where to place the ball(s) for trigger point pain relief. The method does not reshape your body.

[Margaret Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small book, but comes with balls to use to help stretch and self manipulate your back, legs and thighs out of painfil situations. Great instruction on full deep breathing as well. I have bought it at leadt twice and often recommend to friends and patients

[Mary Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear & simple descriptions, with photos with reminders to BREATHE. Now to incorporate these exercises into my day.

[Deborah Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this very simple to read book and the Miracle Balls. So simple and yet the book explains how to use the balls so that by simply lying down on the floor or a mat you can easily use them to help relieve and/or eliminate much that hurts in your back.

Of course we need exercise, yoga, tai Chi and gentle stretching and have a good diet, hopefully with lots of greens and raw greens as in Green Smoothies - but the Miracle Balls and the book, the Miracle Ball Method gives another easy tool that you can use while listening to music, watching the news, gazing out the window or lying down in a back yard, beach or meadow.

I have now used these balls and the book since 2007 and really love the ease and comfort that they bring to my back - even though I don't usually experience pain, after using these balls I experience the "feeling" good of releasing tension that I did not know my muscles were carrying. The many friends and my psychotherapy/Jungian Analytic clients I have recommended these too - and or given them to (they make great gifts!) have usually become quite bonded with them!

For the price the 14.95 price on Amazon - -- why not try these little miracles out?! http://www.amazon.com/The-Portable-Mi...

And I see the new version for 17.95 comes with a demonstration DVD by the Author - -

[Valerie Yoh]

This book isn't quite working for me right now. I'm putting it aside and will try it again later.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful tool for relieving pain; great addition to a regimen of Pilates exercise

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I just need to look at this book every single day and make sure I am stretching and massaging things. 'Kicking myself in the hiney' to remind myself how much it helps!

[Lucinda Romero]

the best

[Merri Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems a little gimmicky, but worth a try. I started with the elbow on the ball sequence, and my upper back tightness and headache both feel better.