This Firm workout is led by Allie Del Rio, who is accompanied by back-up exercisers Allison and Tina, both Firm master instructors. I enjoy this workout. It's a 20 minute toning workout using a 9 pound sculpting stick. The stick can be disconnected into two mini-sticks for light resistance. The workout includes lots of "four-limb" movements, meaning working the lower and upper body at the same time. Therefore, the heart rate is elevated during the standing portion of the workout, making it a light cardio workout as well as toning. The workout consists of many lunges, squats, side lunges and dips, while using the sculpting stick for upper body moves - biceps, triceps, overhead press and lat work. If you have bad knees, this workout is not for you. I'm a moderate level exerciser, and find this workout pretty easy. The three exercisers are in fabuous shape, and most certainly do a lot more than these exercises to look this good. You also don't need the sculpting stick; the workout could be easily executed with two hand weights. In fact, using two heavier hand weights would probably give you a much better workout. Allie is an excellent, experienced instructor, and cues perfectly. The set is pleasant, and the DVD is well-produced. The music is average. The workout ends with light leg and ab work on the floor. The leg lifts work the outer and inner thigh. They don't do enough reps to produce much of a burn. I usually repeat the leg lifts a second time, using a heavier weight to make it worth it. Same goes for the ab work. In summary, this is a nice, quick workout. I'd advise experienced exercisers to use heavier weights in order to feel the burn. I usually add this on to another workout; it's probably not enough on it's own. Or, it's good for a "weak" day, when you don't have the energy to do much, but want to get in some light exercise.

emidiane

USA

Allie Del Rio, 2006 This 20 min dvd is led by Allie in an open room with white brick walls, foggy windows, and hardwood floors. There are 2 Firm instructors as background exercisers. No beginner modifications are shown. It is all sculpting, no cardio, but some of the moves can provide a cardio effect. It moves right along and the 20 minutes really fly by. This dvd comes packaged with a 9 lb bright green weighted body bar that can be screwed apart to make 3 smaller 3 lb bars. I bought the dvd used without the bar and just used my old 8 lb Firm sculpting stick. Because the 8 or 9 lbs is really not enough weight to do much I did the following things to up the intensity of this one: I wore my 20 lb weighted vest, 1 lb weighted gloves, and attached my 2 lb pink Firm weighted balls to my stick. At the end I even put on my 2.5 lb ankle weights (yes Im sure I looked hilarious!). With all these additions I could actually feel my muscles being worked. Allie goes through a series of lunges, squats, bicep curls, shoulder work, tricep work, and some lying inner and outer thigh work before she finished with some ab work and a stretch. Keep in mind this is only 20 minutes and you are supposed to be using a 9 lb bar so dont expect to be feeling a whole lot by the end. But you can easily just use dumbbells instead of the stick, a heavier stick, or do what I did and add all sorts of crazy equipment. Allie cues well and does a great job leading this workout. I would rate it as beginner or low intemediate because of the weight of the stick.

lindseylu8

Bevery Hills, CA