>The Miracle Ball Method – *Review and Giveaway* – Not Just For Parents (again)

>This product review and giveaway is different than all of my past ones, because I was not asked to try this product for the first time to review, but instead this is a product I’ve used and loved and promoted for years.

If you know me, you’ve probably heard me talk about The Miracle Ball Method, perhaps recommend it to you, you may have seen me use them, etc. And if you don’t personally know me, this may be the first time you hear me talk about them, but it won’t be the last.

The Miracle Ball Method is a system for pain relief, stress reduction, stretching, and overall well being. For me, it was the only natural (non-narcotic) pain relief I have found besides massage (which you can’t do for yourself).

Elaine Petrone developed the program after she injured herself and ended her dancing career. Since then she has written books on the subject, consulted for large companies about stress relief, and has promoted her method worldwide. (Below photo of Ms Petrone with Miracle Balls is from her website).

The Elaine Petrone Method focuses on relieving excess tension in your muscles instead of building muscle tone like many other programs do. It’s not an exercise regime, it’s almost the opposite. The method focuses on breathing and becoming aware of your muscles and the tension within.

MY STORY:
In 2002 I was in a devastating car accident. I am not going to share the full details of the accident here, that’s a post for another time, but I was left with massive injuries. My left foot was shattered, my left ankle was broken in two places, my right femur was broken all the way through, and I sustained a burst fracture of the L-1 vertebra. Yes, I broke my spine, and no I am not paralyzed. But I was in a torso body cast for several months, and I underwent many surgeries on my leg/foot/and ankle and have a bunch of screws, plates, rods, and pins holding me together now. And although I’m healed, I’ve been suffering from chronic pain for the past 8 years. My bones are healed, but my alignment is just different now. Things don’t heal exactly the way they were, metal rubs on joints and wears them down, my vertebra healed “smaller” than the rest which throws off my entire spinal alignment, and I am just all sorts of “off”. I’ve tried exercise, I’ve tried pain pills which only provide temporary relief, I’ve tried using my body less, more, etc. but I never found much relief. But in the years 2004-2006 I was a nanny for a professional mom and her 10 (until he was 12) year old son. I really loved this family and to this day, admire the mom E and her parenting methods. She became a model for the type of parent I want to be. Well, E was into natural foods, yoga, Buddhism, and all things “crunchy”. By her TV she had yoga DVDs, mats, and a box of Miracle Balls (see my first photo above). So one day, while her son W was playing a computer game, I decided to read the Miracle Balls book and give them a try. After 20 minutes using the balls, I felt immediate relief from my pain, and it lasted all evening! I couldn’t believe it. So the 3 days a week that I worked there, I used the balls for a half hour or so, and I felt a difference in my body the whole week long. The product really changed my life. When W was too old to need a nanny and could walk home from school by himself, not only did I miss E & W, but I missed the Miracle Balls, so I bought my own set. They have been my go-to item for pain relief, I pack them on vacation, and I’ve given a few sets as gifts. It’s a product and method I believe it and I just want everyone I know to try it and be amazed the way I was!

You don’t have to suffer chronic pain to get the benefits of these. They’d be ideal for someone who gets stiff working at a desk, someone who sustains a sports injury or pulled muscles, PMS cramps and backaches, and they were my salvation when I was pregnant and I was having muscle pains and aches as my body stretched and grew.

The set comes with 2 balls (some stretches use one, some use two) and a book that instructs you how to use them. The balls are about the size of a grapefruit and have give to them. You use them by placing them under various body parts while laying/sitting and you use the weight of your own body to stretch the muscles while you practice breathing techniques. As you breathe, you can literally feel your muscles stretch, pull, and melt over the surface of the ball. It requires no energy, just focused breathing, and you can do it anywhere there is a clean floor space. Can’t you just use any old ball or a rolled up towel with the same effect? Probably… but also probably not. These balls are the perfect size and inflated just so to give you maximum benefits.

My set went a little flat after 4-5 years and I don’t have an air pump and I wanted to tell the world about their awesomeness anyway, so I contacted the people at The Elaine Petrone Method and asked them about doing a giveaway promotion, and so they sent me two sets, one to replace my old set, and one for me to give to a reader. But i urge any reader who suffers from chronic, occasional, or sometimes pain to purchase a set. It’ll be the best (approximately) $15 you’ll ever spend.

Purchase Miracle Ball sets here, there is a travel set, one with a book, one with a DVD, etc.
You can also purchase them in stores. I have seen them in 2 of the major book retailers (the two that both start with B and are all over America), some health food stores, and they are for sale all over the internet through other retailers.

WIN IT!

One lucky reader will get a set of their own to try, and I hope you love them as much as I do.

Mandatory Entry:
You must be a public follower of my blog either via Google reader/friend connect or Networked blogs. Just leave a comment and tell me about any pain you suffer and what your favorite pain relief methods are.

Additional Entries (all worth one unless otherwise specified) Please leave SEPARATE comments for each entry you are entitled to:
* Like Lil Family Blog on Facebook
* Click on both the “Top Mommy” brown button and “Picket Fence” buttons on the right of my page to vote for Lil Family Blog on both sites. (worth 1 total entry)
* Click on the black Swagbucks button on the right and sign up as my referral. (Will be verified on the Swagbucks site).
* Add one of my buttons to your site (again, on the right of my page, copy the text below the button and then paste it onto the sidebar of your blog). Worth 2 entries.
* Post about this giveaway on your blog or site and leave me a link where I can see it.
* Share this contest on Facebook. (Can be done easily with the little “F” icon on the bottom of this entry near the comments).
* Add me to your blogroll/blog list on your site.
* You get one additional entry for every friend/family member you get to enter (they have to leave an extra comment saying who sent them).

Good luck to everyone entering!

This contest will end on September 21, 2010 at 11:59PM EST, no more entries will be accepted after that time. The winner will be chosen at random and announced within a day or two on the blog. The prize will be shipped from me to the winner within a reasonable amount of time, but has been provided by the Elaine Petrone Method company and I am not responsible for any defects with the item. Please see my disclosure link on the top of the page for fine print.

Disclaimer: I was sent two sets of Miracle Balls for free, but was not compensated in any other way. All opinions here are my own. I am not a doctor, physician, and I do not work in the health industry. I am not claiming that these will cure any ailments or injuries, I am just hoping that you perhaps will experience the same pain relief that I did, but I make no guarantees. All products and methods work differently on different people, we all have different body shapes. I am not responsible for any injuries you may sustain while using this product. Be careful!

Do you like giveaways? Click the link on the top to see my others!