If you want the
shorter review, I posted it on amazon.com and you can read it here.
The Firm Zip Medicine Ball Kit is from Gaiam, a company which I trust nearly implicitly. I own more than one of Gaiam's DVDs, use a yoga mat from one of their yoga kits, and often recommend their
products to others because they are typically a reliable source of quality
fitness resources. Although I have heard
of The Firm, I have never before ordered anything from them. But with the Gaiam name attached, I couldn’t resist
giving this new kit a try, especially when I read that it not only included
cardio and strength exercises but some that helped improve balance. And given the trouble I sometimes have with my knees, the idea of kneeling on the unzipped ball definitely appealed to me. I didn’t see any reason why I couldn’t
add these DVDs to my collection and start using them. I chose to replace my boot camp workouts two
days a week with these DVDs.
Day One: I did the
Jumpstart workout with Emily, which is designed to teach the user the eight basic
moves used throughout the DVDs. The
suggestion was to not use the medicine ball or the core ball which was easy
enough to do. After all, she herself is
not using them. I did all of the moves
to the best of my ability but felt very uncoordinated and clumsy and I
practically stumbled my way through some of the moves. Still, I broke a sweat
and hoped that maybe it just takes a little practice. On the
plus side, she showed various modifications that could be made when trying to
do a burpee and I now know what to do when I am doing a DVD that wants me to do
one and I know my balance won’t allow me to follow along.
Day Two: I did the Sculpt
1 workout with Stephanie. She explains
that you do not need to use the medicine ball or the core ball and indicates
that if you need an easier workout, you can follow along with one of the other
two people in the room with her. Or, if
you need to amp it up a bit, you can follow along with the other of the
two. Fair enough. The only problem is, all three are using the
balls so it seems disingenuous to say “You don’t need them” if at no point will
anyone show you how to do any of the exercises without using them. So if you can keep up while trying to find
your own ways of modifying the moves, that’s great. If you can’t, you’ll probably be like me,
once again feeling clumsy and inadequate.
I ended up using the balls and I didn’t understand why the workout wasn’t
better designed so that you would not have to zip and unzip the medicine ball
so frequently. This is especially odd because
the booklet that comes with the kit specifically advises you to tuck the zipper
in the “garage” but there simply is not enough time to do this before the
instructor is telling you to start moving.
Someone tell me how you are supposed not need to use the
ball when the instructions repeatedly tell you to use it for balance? It simply doesn’t make sense. Oh and you’ll definitely need it for the cool
down stretches. Especially for someone
like me who has a problem with her balance. Nonetheless, I had as much success
with this workout as I did with the Jumpstart thinking that maybe I could catch
on to the routines with a little practice.
Day Three: I did the
Jumpstart and Cardio workout with Allie.
I still found the same section on the Jumpstart confusing. Oh well.
I need more practice, I guess.
But the cardio workout with Allie didn’t leave me feeling like I’d ever
catch on. Once again, the viewer is told
you don’t need the ball but the fact is you do.
Too many of the exercises are too confusing without them. Like, how are you supposed to roll the ball
from side to side? I guess you have to
use your imagination. It was confusing
when Allie told us to do a Mambo or Cha-Cha, neither of which had been part of either
of the other workouts I’d already tried and when you’re moving quickly from
movement to movement, by the time I figured out what the heck I was supposed to
be doing, she was moving onto something else.
Naturally I struggled with some of the things that required more balance—like
holding out first one leg and then the other.
I basically felt lost and confused through most of the workout.
I don’t know about you but I don’t like to feel defeated
while exercising.
Day Four: I was a
little more ambitious on this day, or aspired to be more ambitious anyway. I first chose to do the Barefoot Abs with
Alison. There was one move in particular
I found to be ridiculous. Remember,
every time they tell you to not use the medicine ball if this is your first
time but then you’re supposed to get down on your knees. First, you lean back, which is a very good
core workout but obviously it will be more comfortable if you are kneeling on
the ball and not on the floor. Then you
are supposed to do a kneel-stand-kneel movement starting first with the right
foot and then the left. Because you are
kneeling on the ball and then standing on the ball, this requires a lot of
balance. Fact is, for something that’s
supposed to improve balance, it would nice if it didn’t require so much balance
to begin with. I was not pleased.
Once again, I did the Jumpstart workout, still hoping I’d
catch on to the various movements and become comfortable. I think I did a little better but I can’t say
I felt it went especially well. I then
tried to the AMP Reps. (AMP Reps = As
Many Possible Reps, in case you’re wondering.)
I didn’t even get past the warm-up when Emily had us go from a runner’s
lunge, step back to a plank, and then back to the runner’s lunge. Again, these are moves that require balance,
more balance than I have, obviously.
I have no trouble following along with the boot camp
workouts I do. I can do yoga with Rodney Yee or Shiva Rea. I’ve used TonyHorton’s P90 and 10 Minute Trainer. I
have more than a few of Leslie Sansone’s DVDs.
But these DVDs from The Firm? Well, right now I am
putting them on the shelf until I finish the boot camp. Then and only then will I give them another
try. And I mean I’ll really try
them. The kit comes with a booklet that
outlines a 60 day plan for when you will do each of the workouts. This is a good idea. With 8 different workouts, it’s easy to only
do the ones you enjoy. Please tell me I’m
not the only one who avoids doing things she doesn’t enjoy doing? Although I won't follow the menu plan, I'll even sign up for the 60 days free community access. I think the only way I can give a full review for the product is to make full use of it.