First off, I am not a yogi. I don't do pilates, or meditation, or accu-anything. My husband actually purchased this product for his back and I'd seen them, but sort of just filed them away along with yoga mats and those big bouncy balls that some people use to sit at their desks. Basically, as something that wasn't for me. But I was wrong, I had no idea how helpful this roller would be for both of us. Even with our differences in height, weight, and frame sizes this roller is able to "iron" out our knots and re-align both of our spines. I myself have been blessed with 2 bulging disks that, when my spine is particularly misaligned, pinch the nerve running along my neck, upper back and shoulders (hooray!). This has left me out of commission for as long as 4 days in the past. Once I pinpointed the area that was falling out of place I was able to crack my own back but that only works to an extent. This is where the foam roller comes in, that extra bend that it allows for in your back was exactly what I needed to really snap those suckers back into place. Talk about an increase in quality of life! And this was even after I had tried a chiropractor, masseuse, etc. It is also really helpful for tight hips (which I've always found the stretches to alleviate awkward and not very effective).
The foam is dense enough to support delicate or aggravated backbones but still has a slight give that cushions your back/muscles from the full impact of your body weight. Personally I think the 6" is the best width as wider rollers can over-extend you and narrower ones wouldn't give the range of motion I needed to fix my vertebrae. That being said, if your main concern is an issue deep within the crook of your neck a more narrow roller might be a better fit for you. But this is a very good middle of the road size that has worked well on my neck. The 36" length is also really nice as it increases the roller's versatility. It is wide enough to roll your hamstrings, hips, and both shoulders at once. It's really lightweight as well, so taking it with you or moving it around for storage is no big deal. A storage bag or carrying strap would have been nice just to keep it from collecting any dust and for those who do use them within a class setting but that is only a teeny drawback. Overall, I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a foam roller, as it has been an incredibly versatile and helpful tool in keeping us pain free.
PROS: Quality materials, Durable, Great for guys and gals, Width is a good middle of the road 6" that is able to roll legs, shoulders, neck, and back equally well, Easy to use, Lightweight, EFFECTIVE!
CONS: May not be narrow enough for deep neck work, No included storage container or carrying mechanism
TIPS: Take it slow! After feeling the relief of having this align my back, I went a little overboard with the pressure I applied, and ended up with some post-self inflicted soreness afterwards, Always drink water afterwards! When you roll sore muscles you are releasing the build up of lactic acid within them (that caused that burning sensation), water helps flush this from your system so your muscles stay pain-free longer!
*** Did you find this review helpful? I hope so! Let me know if you have questions by using the comments section below ***
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 39.61 x 7.01 x 6.3 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.4 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 36 x 6 x 5 inches |
| Brand Name | CanDo |
| Warranty Description | 1 |
| Model Name | instecho |
| Color | Black |
| Material | DriSilque |
| Suggested Users | boys, womens, mens |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Cando |
| Part Number | 1013961 |
| Model Year | 2016 |
| Style | 1 |
| Included Components | 1 |
| Size | 6"x36" |
| Sport Type | Exercise & Fitness |
