Customer Reviews

The Firm - Total Body: Low Impact Aerobics [VHS]

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I'm a fan of all of the FIRM videos--they've made a big impact on my health and my overall outlook on life, as cheesy as that sounds. This is my favorite of the "total body workout" series, because it gives me the hardest workout for my time invested. A good combo of weights and aerobics, with just the right degree of difficulty (which you can modify by using different weights). I think this is a must-buy, but of course (as with all FIRM videos)there are some caveats--the main one being to get ready for MAJOR arm/ upper body work. Don't be misled by the "Low-Impact Aerobics" subtitle, as this is more than just jumping around and yelling "feel the burn!" Yes, you'll be at an aerobic heart rate for a good long time, but it's maintained by a near-exhausting (but very fulfilling) series of presses and squats. Also, if you want a major leg/bun workout, look elsewhere (Total Body Vol. 1 is good). And the "guest instructor," Janet Jones-Gretzky, doesn't cue very well and tends to get the whole right/left thing (it's reversed for the instructor) mixed up a few times. But these are small quibbles about a tape that really is an excellent addition to your video library--I own 10 FIRM tapes and this is the one I return to more than any other. Give it a try and see.

I am lucky enough to own all of the Firm videos. This tape Low Impact Aerobics (formerly called Vol. 2) with Janet Jones Gretzky is one of the toughest for me! Do not be misled by the title. Though both feet stay on the floor throughout the workout, its intense! It doesnt help that Ms. Gretzky looking absolutely stunning in a white leotard, barely breaks a sweat while lifting heavy weights. When I first got the tape I could barely get through it. However with, determination and desire I can now do the tape using the size weights Janet uses. But its still challenging! Thats part of the charm of the Firm. The lavish set, beautiful music and outstanding instructors inspire you to achieve your best! If you are beginner just do what you can and eventually you will work up to completing the entire tape. I have really increased my cardiovascular endurance and improved my physique as a result of these tapes. Warm up is 6minutes. Aerobics 25minutes. Hip/Thigh work 18minutes. Ab work 7minutes and final strech 9minutes. You will need dumbbells ankle weights and lots of determination to do this workout. Its GREAT!

I have been working out with several of The Firm tapes exclusively for a few years now and am in terrific shape because of it. I recently purchased this video and found it to be a very good all around workout that combines some cardio with mostly muscle sculpting. I found the video to be a little more focused on the upper body than on the lower body, but you will work all parts. Unlike most of the other Firm videos, this tape did very little cueing for the appropriate range of weights to use. Personally, I find that this can be detrimental to a workout because if you choose weights that are heavier than you should use, it can cause you to use up your energy and strength prematurely and cause struggling for the remainder of the video, not to mention that this can increase the risk of injury. To be safe, choose lighter weights until you are very familiar with all of the exercises in the tape. This tape will provide you with a good, long workout.

I would definitely recommend LOW IMPACT (vol 2) w/Janet Jones-Gretzky because it is TOUGH. Everyone is right however, this is NOT low impact, but I love high impact anyway, so this is probably why I love this volume.
***Volume two is led by Janet Jones Gretsky. I personally like her, I think she is very calming w/ her tone of voice and isn't as icy as Sandahl Bergman from Volume 3. Janet seems to do the moves very effortless (a plus or minus depending on who you talk to!) and the cast hardly (if ever?) sweats during this workout!
I do though! I am advanced, I find this video to be one of the FIRM's toughest. (along w/volume 1)

This volume has VERY tough upper body work including frontal sweeps and overhead presses, along with biceps and tricep work. There is also a very tough set of pushups in this volume. The leg work is also tough, not as tough as Susan Harris' in volume one, but definitely a burner! There is the traditional leg floor work, because the tallbox that the FIRM uses now for leg work wasn't used until volume three.
The high impact (aka "Low impact aerobics") part in this video would be the beginning aerobic tune where you hop around and do various leg moves and a few plyos at the end. This is why most consider this video high impact...........
I enjoy this volume because it is long (65min)
WARNING THOUGH! You shouldn't get this video if-
1)you dislike eighties cheezy music/hair/makeup!
2)floor work bothers you
3)you dislike exercisers that don't sweat
4)you are just starting out w/the FIRM or w/exercise (little pointers, more advanced format)
I hope this helps a little bit...
There is a HUGE difference between new/old FIRMS-
cueing, instruction, no "guest instructors" more fun choreography and music, but if you are looking for an athletic not too dancy video, and you like 80's music, get this one!

This is an old work-out but it remains one of the best. Who cares if there is 80s music, hair and makeup when its the results that count. Our bodies' needs have not changed in the last 10-15 years and this work-out gets the job done! I LOVE this work-out but it is not for everyone. To help decide if this is for you, here are some points:

It may not the best choice for you IF:
- you typically hate working out and is looking for something short and fun and easy just to get your body moving.
- you are a beginner who has not worked out ever or in a long time
- you like instructors who entertain you with jokes and/or motivate you with promising results every few minutes of the work out
- you dislike looking at perfect bodies who hardly break a sweat through a long and killer work out - this could be seen as motivational, but if you find it intimidating, this tape is not for you
- you do not have the time in a day for a total 65 minute work-out (you can forward and skip some parts for a shorter work-out but this may not be the best choice for you)
- you have a medical condition that prohibits you from lifting weights or jumping
- you don't like to get down on the floor and do all the classic floor exercises

This IS a GREAT choice for you IF:
- you are serious about getting fit and being in tip-top shape, and you realize and know what it takes and are willing to do it
- you want to see a pleasant (gorgeous!) and no-nonsense instructor who will be there to lead you in a sensational work-out in a calm and professional manner
- you want a work-out that works your whole body and all the muscle groups as well as gives you a great cardio work-out
- you have been exercising for a while and all your basic/beginners work-outs have become a breeze and you yawn while you do them. This tape will give you a new challenge!
- you are already in good shape and would like to maintain your level of fitness in a compact one hour work-out that works every part of your body
- you want to see results - FAST!

On a final note, you will need a set of dumbells for this work-out (3,5 and 8 pounds recommended for women and 5-10-15 for men). Ankle weights are also optionally used, and definitely recommended as you get stronger. You may also want a floor mat for the floor exercises.

This was the first Firm workout I bought about two years ago. I've gone on to buy eight or nine more, but this one remains one of the toughest of the bunch. I still reach for it on days when I need a very tough 65-minute workout that will hit almost all my major muscles in both upper and lower body (inner thighs and the upper back don't get much attention here).

I agree with other reviewers about having to get past the eighties muzak and leotards, but this was a very minor point for me. Note that this is NOT a step workout, like some of the other Firm tapes, and the only equipment you'll need is three sets of weights (3, 5, and 8 pounds for beginners is what they recommend) and a board or something to elevate your heels during bridge work. Space requirements are reasonable -- I do this tape in a small living room. There are a fair amount of jogging/jumping jacks intervals, though, so apartment-dwellers may want to keep that in mind.

I only have two real gripes about this workout. First, the instructor moves VERY quickly, and doesn't talk at all about form. For example, she'll have you doing standing rows, militaries, and curls with heavy weight very, very quickly, which I suspect leads to extremely poor form. Most of the arm work is at that fast tempo, in fact, so if you use the heavy weight she calls for, pay very close attention to form. Beginning lifters should get another tape first, maybe one of the Firm tapes with Tracey Long, who gives excellent instruction without slowing the workout.

My second gripe is that the instructor's cuing could be better. She'll often forget to cue, or give a slightly confusing cue. This is only a problem for me during the abs work, when I can't see the TV, and she has you switch sides during oblique twists without actually telling you to. The other miscues are easy to just watch and adapt to.

Beyond those two things, this is a great workout. If you're a Firm believer, this one won't disappoint you.

This is currently my favorite Firm tape. I became curious to try it after seeing a part of it on a Firm Parts aerobic workout tape. There are no "step" exercises involved in this workout as there are on some of the other Firm tapes, but it doesn't matter. This is a very strenuous, 60-minute workout tape that really provides an excellent aerobic and lower-body workout with weights. But as previous reviewers have warned: THIS IS NOT A LOW-IMPACT WORKOUT!. I don't know why they called it that. You will really get a challenging workout using this tape.It's too early to say that I've seen results yet. But I definitely FEEL the results. It's worth every dime.

I know the negatives: a little too quick with the moves, cue-ing is not perfect. BUT the positives defintely outweigh them:

1) A VERY efficient workout: 1 hour will give you weight training, cardio and stretching.
2) Emphasis on upper body weight training, which I loved. You really see results in your sholders, more than with other Firm tapes.
3) Nothing beats the Firm's high quality music. It's made for the workout, and perfectly complements it. It actually reduces your need to look at the screen, a plus when you're doing the floor section.
4) PERFECT for weight loss, because you get your cardio AND weight training in just 1 hour, and YOU WILL SEE RESULTS IN 10 WORKOUTS!!

This is a great total-body workout, but there are a few things you need to be aware of before purchasing it. I believe this video was produced in 1988, so you're going to have to get past the 80's music and cheesy leotards. Janet is a good instructor, but like a previous reviewer has mentioned, she seems almost like a porn star at times-- just the way she presents herself and the way she talks. Her cueing isn't the best, but I find that's one of the fun parts of a new video, that it takes multiple times to master the routine. It claims to be low-impact, and for the most part it is. However, I don't call jogging in place and jumping jacks "low impact". At the same time, these moves are very reasonable if you're doing them on a soft surface with proper shoes. Very little equipment is required: you'll need 3 sets of weights, some ankle weights, a short towel for stretching and an optional 2x4 block of wood to rest your feet on. I didn't have the 2x4 and I did just fine. Got a great total body workout, and I was sore the next day-- it hurt to sneeze, but it was a good kind of soreness!

This was one of the first Firm tapes I purchased and after all these years I still see results.I feel that anybody that truly is serious about losing weight and building muscle will see plenty of results.People who are dooming themselves to failure will not enjoy these tapes because you have to really work.There is none of that prissy aerobics where you can't even get your heart rate up.The Firm will definitely firm you up!