Slide and Glide disks

[jengollf]

I have a question about the disks. I don't own any but they have been used in a few of the workouts I've done so far. It appears that one of their functions is to make a move low impact. I have just modified the moves w/out them but that makes the move high(er) impact generally (which is not a big deal for me). For instance, skiers went from sliding back and forth to "jump" skiing. Plank mountain climbers already seem low impact, but I just do them normally. My question is, other than making a move low(er) impact, what other benefits are there to using the slide and glide disks? Do they make any moves more intense or harder? For instance, one had squat thrusts using the disks--I just did normal squat thrusts. Would the move have been/felt different or more intense with the disks?

I have no problem with high impact moves, so if that is the only reason for the disks (to make a move low impact), then I won't worry about it, but if there is additional benefit--they make a move more challenging or intense--then I might get some.

 

[Trixoo]

Personally, I find some moves, mountain climbers for example, to be much more challenging for my core when I use the discs. I never found them challenging the "regular" way, but find them really hard with the discs. try using some paper plates, frisbees or moving men discs to get a feel for what it's like. Either way, though, you'll b
Get a good workout.

 

[deineira]

I'm with Trixoo. A mountain climber on the sliding discs is a totally different animal. A cruel, horrible animal. I also find that they really allow you to distribute your weight differently on your working leg when you use them to do lunges or airplane moves, or any move where the leg with the disc is sliding away and that forces you to put your weight on the standing legs It works both legs in a totally different way than a static move.
I was using paper plates before I got my discs, so if you don't want to buy more equipment, you could try those and see what it's like. They don't last as long, but they will last for several workouts before they are beat up. I encourage you to give it a try as you may find that it really is a new and challenging way to work your lower half (and I think they work your back as well for the same reason...weight distribution is different).

Just my two cents...

Eva

 

[scook]

Alternate to disks

When I started STS, I had invested in enough equipment, so I was looking "outside the box" for an alternative to the disks. I found a plastic file folder in my bookcase/school supplies. I cut it in half and it works great! I highly recommend this alternative.

 

[mini-natty]

The discs definitely up the intensity during certain exercises. NOT just for low impact I assure you! I find the core and legs have to work harder to stabilize, especially during mountain climber's (or worse, spider mountain climbers! ). Consider the movement; you continuously have to pull the discs out, then back in, which forces leg muscles to be recruited. Sliding back lunges w/the disc totally get in the glute and thighs like no other. Another brutal yet effective move for the core is sliding planks, which forces you to drag your entire body up/down . You won't get the same "feel" without the discs. And if that's not enough to convince you, I lost inches in my thighs doing the Nov 2011 Low Impact Series rotation

Good luck!

Natasha

 

[jengollf]

Thank you!

Wow! Thank you everyone for your replies! I plan to buy some paper plates now--or maybe use some frisbees--to check it out myself. Then purchase the discs if I like it. I'm excited, now! Anything to up the intensity and get a better burn. I was so surprised by the intensity of Low Impact Cardio Supersets w/out the discs! I did not expect it to be as intense as it is. I have already ordered (and rcvd yesterday) Afterburn. Althletic training is next on my to-buy list.

 

[jengollf]

Tried "disks"

We have those frisbee golf disks which are smaller and flatter than regular frisbees, so I think they worked really well as a substitute. I haven't used them yet with my Low Impact workouts, but I did used them for the disk moves in Crossfire and To the Max.

Here's what I found--please tell me if maybe I'm doing something wrong on some of them. On the jack pushups, it definitely made a difference. That move was harder, more intense and I felt it much more through my core and lower body. For the mountain climbers--I wouldn't say it was harder, but it was different. Like the push up jacks, I felt it more in my core. The other two moves did not feel more intense or as if they worked different muscles. They were jumping jacks and something like a swimmers lunge? I can't remember exactly what she called it. Regular jumping jacks feel more intense to me than the sliding ones and as for the lunges--that felt much less intense than what I usually substitute--180 jump lunges. I couldn't really tell whether it was working new muscles in new ways--it just didn't feel that hard or intense.

So that is how experiment #1 went. I have recently bought several of the Low Impact workouts and when I do those, I am going to use the disks to see how it feels.

But I wanted to see if this is similar to what everyone else sees? Do you feel jumping jacks and those lunges are more intense with the disks? And if so, what might I be doing wrong?

 

[mrsprincess07]

My take on the discs is slightly different. I don't do the cardio with the disks except for Slide n Glide simply bc I tend to shy away from Cathe's cardio workouts these days. However, if your form is correct and you are placing the weight of your body in the heel, you will feel the muscles working differently with all exercises, both cardio and strength. Your stabilizers really kick into action. I might not always feel it immediately, but the next day I do.

The disks for me have been a lift saver. I have knee problems and using the disks is the only way I can do lunges anymore. It allows me to go through the motion without the snapping and locking that usually happens with traditional lunges. Why? I don't know. It just does. It's also a nice way to work the inner and outer thighs without sticking to plies or band/floor work. I've had some serious knee and hip issues for years now and I gave up on most lower body exercise except for physical therapy; it was too painful and caused a lot of swelling. But because of the discs, I can do more than what I was able to before and I get more bang for my buck with body weight-only ecercises.

It's all about foot placement and weight distribution when using them.

 

[jengollf]

Thanks--thats a really good suggestion. Now that I think back, I don't think I had my weight on my heels, but in my forefoot. I'll focus on that next time!

 

[mrsprincess07]

Give it a try and see how it works. I know if you did jumping jacks like most of do on the ball of the foot, you won't get the benefits like you would if you did them with the heel planted. It takes some mental adjustment which I think is the hardest. We're so used to placing our feet and holding our weight in certain ways for certain exercises that it can be hard to change that focus. Good luck!