The Firm Wave DVD4 – Express Abs (10 mins)
This is the extra DVD you get with your basic Firm Wave kit – and it’s a different workout again (albeit a short one at 10 minutes).
We get Emily as instructor on this one, blonde and as cute as a button. She gives the usual instructions about being safe, and then has us sitting on the rocking side of the Wave and …well, rocking. Make sure you sit up tall and don’t let your back slump; it’s more challenging than it looks.
Pressups with feet on the Wave follow (good variation). I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – follow Beginner Girl unless you are a seasoned exerciser and know your own strength; I’m pretty strong, but I found some of these progressions quite hard, and nearly landed on my nose at one point! And yes, pressups do indeed work your abs, along with practically every muscle in your body, apart from your tongue. And if you huff, puff and curse as much as I do while doing these, your tongue will get a workout too. Like we girls need one!
You may find the worst thing about pressups is how tough they are on the wrists. It’s important to stick with them, even if you hate them, as pressups are practically the only exercise to strengthen the bones in your arms, which weaken drastically in later life and can develop osteoporosis (brittle bones), resulting in painful fractures which are slow to heal.
I’m not trying to scare you; doing some weight-bearing on your wrists can reduce the risk of fracture by as much as 50% as you get older. My mum does 2 pressups, rests, then does a few more, and her latest bone scan showed that the exercise was definitely having a beneficial effect. But boy, does she grumble at me for making her do them! (Any other “odd” feelings in the wrist or hands, such as pins and needles, should be checked out as it could be a sign of RSI – you need to see a health professional).
Standing on The Wave and twisting follows, then we’re back to the floor to sit on the “crest” of the Wave for some more exercise, then it’s lying on the floor, feet on Wave for Pilates-type crunches and double leg lifts. My abs were protesting (loudly!) by this point, but yet another exercise followed – prone over the Wave this time, raising arms and legs in a swimming motion.
Some nice stretches followed, to finish the workout off. It may only be 10 minutes, but it felt longer! My abs, waist muscles and back felt like they’d had a really good exercise session, and like the other DVDs, I was impressed with the sheer quality of presentation and the great range of exercises shown. All you’ll ever need for toning, trimming and weight loss.
All the best,
Carol J Bartram
(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)
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