The Firm Wave - Rock Solid Buns
I always enjoy reviewing the firm DVDs. They are, without exception, professionally presented and beautifully choreographed, and all those stunning instructors never have a hair out of place. Even by the end when I am wheezing, red-faced and sweating there is not a hint of runny mascara or tired, quivering muscles in sight. And they’re all still smiling. I am wickedly jealous!
This DVD promises Rock Solid Buns with a 30 minute workout. It also has a 20 minute express option taken from the main workout. The title makes me grin – here in the UK, buns means cupcakes. Rock Solid Buns here in Yorkshire refers more to your lack of cookery skills than the tone of your derriere!
We start with a nice warmup with The Wave anchored, as they call it. I call it curve-up so it stays still when you step on it. This is a different warmup to the other DVDs, which is a nice touch to stop you getting bored. We have Master Instructor, Alison and her quartet of girls for this workout, with Lesley being the Beginner Girl this time. It pleases me no end to see a workout with modifications given for new or unconditioned exercisers - so often these workouts are about presenters looking good as they leap and twirl rather than producing a workout that anybody can do without doing themselves harm or being put off exercise for life.
I really take my hat off to the Firm for that - in the past I have seen celebrity DVDs that should have carried a hazard warning. I would even recommend the Firm Wave workouts to my mum, who is accident-prone and has been known to pull a muscle whilst lifting a teapot!
After the warmup comes work with hand weights; we have wide squats (think Sumo wrestler stance), lunges, and then the added challenge of knee lifts included to work your core and strengthen your balance. The girls make the jump lunges look easy, but believe me, they’re not -- my thighs were complaining even more than my buns! My only complaint, as with the other DVDs, is that you can't often see what Beginner Girl is doing; if they moved her into camera just behind the instructor it would be better.
Now we get to use the fancy pink exercise band; the Wave is now curve-down with the band threaded through. If you wish you can just use the bands to balance with or more experienced exercisers can stand on one leg and use the bands for added resistance. This is hard! Those of you out there who find the pink exercise band too easy can always replace it with a tougher one -- they are very easy to come by.
It's amazing what can be done with a stretchy band! Lying on the floor comes next (I was nearly there already!) with the band hooked over one foot to add resistance for shoulder bridge and side leg lift. Both great exercises to sculpt and tone the butt from all angles.
We finish with a lovely stretching session to lengthen out and relax your tired, quivering limbs after a dynamic and enjoyable exercise workout that will, done regularly, give you buns of steel!
All the best,
Carol J Bartram
(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)
|