GaiamGaiam Restore Stretch & Massage Kit

This was just what I was looking for. The ball is solid and great for massage.

Pictures show product how it was received - damaged, and missing key items. I wasn't even offered a replacement - bummer. I love Gaiam products, but disappointed with the customer service.

I'm a daily exerciser and also a yoga instructor. I love using balls for acupressure stretching work, and I own a variety of types, from Jill Miller's Yoga Tune Up balls to "Pinky" brand play balls. I'm always interested in trying any new types of balls that might be useful, so I was excited to try this kit.This set comes with one ball, one strap (with three loops), one mesh bag, and one instruction sheet. The ball is about the same size of my other balls (e.g., the same size as a standard Pinkly ball), but it is definitely, more like the density of a lacrosse ball. Unlike a lacrosse ball, however, it is firm rubber rather than hard plastic. This is excellent for self-massage purposes, as the rubber provides a "gripiness" when rolling the ball over the body, especially over clothing. The ball may be too firm for some areas, but I like strong pressures, so it was perfect for me.Unfortunately, I found the strap to be rather flimsy. I own other Gaiam-brand straps, and they are significantly thicker and of better quality. The only really reason to prefer this particular strap is if you want the loops, but I don't find that they add much; I prefer the classic, belt-style yoga strap. I do like that this kit included a mesh bag. The set would have been much more of a "win" for me had it included TWO balls; I could take or leave the strap. As is, I love the ball, but I find the strap pretty unnecessary.

I've read the instructions and watched the many Youtube videos on these things, and sorry to say, never did figure out how to use it properly. It seemed like a waste of time with no real results, so I'm back to just using the Yoga mat to stretch out, and then hitting the steam room instead of goofing around with this thing.

When I first started getting serious about running, I started to get shin splints. My personal trainer worked with me to relieve the pain by showing me that I could use a tennis ball and roll it on the sore areas to work out the knots, and also tightly wrapped my shins for me. I've also been instructed to use a foam roller when I run and to stretch to help cut down on the pain.I had pretty high hopes for this stretch and massage kit; I thought it would be great in addition to the foam rolling I was already doing. But because of the layout in my home and the types of doors we have and the spacing, setting up the Nylon strap proved to be too much of an annoyance. I just don't have the space to work with, and had kind of thought there would be a hook or something that would come with the strap. There's not, and I'm short, so I needed assistance in getting the strap secured so I could use it.As for the ball, this is probably the most useful part of the kit. I mostly wanted it for my neck, because for work I hunch over a computer and there is a lot of stress on my shoulders and neck. The ball catches against my hair and pulls it, so I quickly stopped using it for that area. Next, I tried it for my feet after a run, but I didn't really feel any difference after using it. I use the foam roller for my back and legs, and since I don't have the best balance, I can't see using the ball for those areas, too. Eventually I might try it, but I'd mostly been interested in the kit for the stretching strap.