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The Firm Wave - Rock Solid Abs

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Well, what can I say about the Rock Solid Abs DVD?  It challenged my abs in so many ways that I was still feeling the burn two days later.  For an innovative and inspired workout for the whole core, you really can't beat this DVD, presented by Master Instructor Allie and her gang. Cute-as-a-button Emily is back as Beginner Girl - by the end I was Lay-On-The-Floor-And-Moan Girl!

Once again this torture-fest lasts 30 minutes, and also on the DVD is the 20 minute express version, although if you going to do 20 minutes of this you might as well bite the bullet and do the full 30 and feel the burn.

Just as a matter of interest, where do they find all these stunning instructors?  I am an instructor and I sure as hell don't look like that! All these girls have legs that reach up to their neck and they can touch the floor from the crest of their wave just by bending their knees slightly. I was leaping from side to side like a demented frog to keep up with them. Remember some of us have short, stubby legs, guys!

On this DVD we have a different warmup concentrating on getting your core moving, so we have a lot of side bends, side squats with a little wiggle, and rotation to start off with.  If you have any kind of back issue do these turns very gently and don't push it.  Then we go to one-leg balancing and Allie says, "If you’re wobbling, that’s ok - you will see us wobbling too."  I see no wobble!  Show me the wobble!!

Next we move to floor level and some frog jumps, then it's laying on our side over the Wave for what we call Mermaid in Pilates.  Don't worry about it if you simply get no movement at all to start with - these exercises isolate the oblique muscles in your waist like no others, and in this position there is no other muscle to assist.  Persevere with this and make sure you are not hoisting yourself up by pulling with the shoulders, or twisting your spine; as your waist muscles strengthen you will get some movement.  This exercise will absolutely carve muscle into your sides -- believe me you will know about it when you feel the ache!

Then we roll prone over the Wave for leg and arm extensions that are working buns as well as your core and shoulders.  I could quite happily have just laid there panting for the rest of the session, but no, Ms Torture Queen and her evil henchmen were now sitting on the crest of the Wave to work the lower abs by raising the legs.  It pleased me to notice that even their cheerful smiles were becoming grimaces by now, call me a miserable devil!  I want to feel their effort, I want to feel their pain.  If my abs have to suffer, so should theirs!

You can actually see the shape of the six-packs on these girls, which tells me they are too thin (miaow!).  I too have a six-pack in my midriff.  It just happens to be covered by the rest of the Wal-Mart shopping as well!

Now we come back to standing and rock on the Wave, squat and rotate on the Wave and even use one leg to rock on the Wave. Please don't give up if you can't balance on one leg at this stage; give it time and you will - this is really concentrated exercise for your whole body.

Back on the floor again, it's now time to add the exercise band for some resisted sit-ups and rotation work.  And finally, when my entire midsection is shaking like a jelly, Ms Torture Queen has pity on us and we get to the stretching part of the workout.  The stretches are done seated, which isn't suitable for everyone, including me; if you are very stiff around the hips and pelvis, don't force yourself into these positions.  You can always stretch your major muscle groups from a standing position.

And that's it.  Another stunningly-produced workout from the Firm; varied, innovative and very, very effective, whether you are a new or seasoned exerciser.  With The Firm Wave Deluxe package, which includes these two extra CDs, you will have enough workout ideas to last you a very long time.  These are all you need to completely reshape and tone your body from top to toe!


All the best,


Carol J Bartram

(Personal Trainer & Pilates Instructor)


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