The Body Ballancer treatment claims to reduce puffiness, bloating and tightens in as little as one session by mimicking the effects of a manual lymphatic massage. Does it deliver? We borrowed one for a week to find out.
Spending roughly nine hours a day sitting at my laptop working has left me more rigid than a plank of wood, and my hips feel a lot older than their years. What’s more, the stress associated with the lockdown, the one (read five) too many unhealthy snacks and the often rushed meals slumped at a laptop instead of taking a lunch break has resulted in a bloated waistline that seems impossible to reduce.
Enter the Body Ballancer which comes with a list of very impressive claims: by stimulating the circulatory and lymphatic systems; it seeks to speed along the elimination of wastes and toxins from the body to reduce fluid retention and puffiness in as little as a single session. It also promises to reduce cellulite by increasing the supply of oxygenated blood to tissues and reduce lactic acid build-up post-workout to aid faster recovery.
It is lined with 24 individual air chambers which compress and deflate in a range of different ways along the feet, legs, bum and stomach. These mimic the effect of a manual lymphatic massage to boost both circulation and the lymphatic system.
It also helps to relieve tension in tightness hotspots such as the hips, thighs and buttocks – a common side-effect of our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and a problem I know only too well about.
The fact that the treatment’s machine-operated too, arguably provides greater consistency in pressure and technique than a more hands-on approach.
Having put my little one to bed and cleared the sofa of any dogs and husband, I zipped myself into the pair of Body Ballancer trousers that are very much akin to a 70’s spacesuit. I hit the start button and wait. The trousers start to fill with air, and within seconds the treatment begins.
The sensation must be tried to be appreciated. Imagine a massage therapist on each leg firmly massaging in synchronisation combined with a feeling of tightness like having your blood pressure taken.
Forty-five minutes later and the clever little device beeped to signal the end of the treatment and the trousers started to deflate. I wriggled free.
Gone was that sluggish, bloated feeling I had beforehand. My legs and feet felt lighter, too. The Body Ballancer does claim to improve the appearance of cellulite, thanks to increased blood and oxygen flow. I didn’t notice this, but I imagine you would need to commit to a series of treatments to reap those rewards.
What you can’t see just by looking, are the overall benefits to your health. The boost that your immune system has got, the toxins that have been flushed out and your circulation improved.
If I could choose these trousers as my outfit of the day, every day, then I absolutely would.
Read more health and beauty-related articles in our dedicated section here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.