Saundra

In September 2008, The FIRM release three workouts that they filmed in New York. My big griped about these three workouts is that you couldn't hear the music in any of the three. The sound quality is just terrible. If you turn up your volume, then the instructor is super loud. I really feel that this undermines which overall are a great set of workouts. That brings me to my favorite of the three and that is Slim & Trim lead by the FIRM's Tina Smalley. This 40 minute workout uses a 4lb medicine ball or power ball. It still uses the FIRM formula of interspersing floor aerobics with toning sets. This workouts moves. You really don't get a break from once segment to the next. In some spots it was difficult for me to tell when one segment ended and another one began. The aerobics is high and low impact. Also, you are constantly using the ball. Only a couple times were we not doing anything without the ball. My one gripe about the ball is that it is hard. One set,...

TransFIRM your Trouble zones is a 45 minute Kettlebell workout. It uses a 5lb kettlebell in what is becoming the FIRM's typical floor aerobics/toning workouts. I am not a fan of the Kettlebell and didn't particularly care for this workout, but I do like Kelsie Daniels. I think she is an awesome instructor and lead. Kelsie takes you through many basic and elementary kettlebell movements. Every once in awhile, you put the KB down for cardio intensity burst. For the most part though, even during some of the cardio work, you are always using the KB. This is not a bad workout. I am just lukewarm about it. Like Dangerous Curves Ahead, this workout had terrible sound quality. 3 stars out of 5

The FIRM's Dangerous Curves Ahead is a 57 minute interval type workout. It mixes cardio and sculpting sets. The cardio contains low and high impact moves. The sculpting sets uses a resistance loop and the FIRM "cardio weights" to tone the body. The majority of the moves are functional fitness and compound movements. The loop is challenging on some of the moves; on other moves it is just simply awkward. I particularly felt the resistance of loop during the hamstring and glute work. Where I felt the loop was cumbersome was during the abdominal section of the workout. Alison is terrific. She is one of my favorite FIRM instructors. My favorite saying of hers is when she says "Let's Dig In". I enjoyed this workout except for one thing. The music. I couldn't hear it. I could hear Alison just fine. When I turned up my volume trying to make the music louder, then Alison became too loud. 3 1/2 out of 5 stars