The Firm: Express Total Body Shaping (BSS3)

Bzar already gave a breakdown of this workout so I'm just going to add my impressions.

I have been revisiting BSS-era Firms and have been especially looking for shorter 30-45 minute strength or strength/cardio to fit into my current routine, and realized I did not have this DVD. I saw total body and picked it up, not realizing upon purchasing that this one didn't use the step which was disappointing, but that was my incorrect assumption.

I don't have the sculpting stick but easily improvised with a light barbell and weights. Acknowledging I used heavier weights than was presented, the leg work was fairly challenging - lots of squats, plies, lunges. There also seemed to be a slight barre influence with lots of front and side leg raises/kicks. I personally used a resistance loop to make the leg lifts harder! I also did not use the stick to balance with to add intensity.

For a "total body shaping" workout, the upper body was mostly neglected. They were only hit during 4-limb type work with the "twigs" more than anything. The reps were too fast to go heavy on the weights at all.

Even with my more advanced modifications, this was still a pretty easy workout. The legs were a little harder but the upper body was very sparing. However, the music was good! I will definitely keep the DVD for lighter/recovery days and with the knowledge it is more lower body focused.

Pam Cauthen Meriwether (Lead)

Lisa Kay

Christa Riley

Stephanie Huckabee

Libby Heath (low impact)

Total workout time is 32:26 min.

DVD version - Not chaptered

Deep Purple attire, lavender tops

Standing on round, raised, pedestals (i.e., small footprint for us to work in)

darkish set which is similar to that used in the BSS3 series

Equipment: sculpting stick, and no ramp or step/FL/box/TF whatsoever

Breakdown:

Workout begins at the 1:48 mark

Warm up - 5:12 minutes (no stick)

Low impact, moving arms, stretching incorporated into warm up; big arm movements

1st segment, about 10 minutes, is done standing, working primarily the lower body, with some shoulder and back work:

After the warm up, they pick up the Sculpting stick, & perform the following moves:

Squats

1-legged squats

cross-legged 1 leg squats (more intense)

single leg lifts

leg shifting squats

calf raises

single leg calf raises

dead lifts using stick for resistance

frontal lifts to work the shoulders

static lunges using stick to balance

rhomboid pinches

2nd segment begins at the 15:46 mark, starts out unweighted:

consists of squats, light cardio, no weights, light plyos

16:58 pick up stick, do static lunges, plies

18:50 light cardio

20:00 take off twigs - 4 limb: biceps, triceps, and some combo moves (lift arm and do knee-up, switch sides)

22:09 reassemble stick to use stick for balancing and working each leg:

side kicks holding stick to balance; standing inner thigh lifts; repeat on other side

25:20 standing oblique work using stick for resistance; intensify by using long lever above head to continue to work obliques

end of stick use

27:35 planks w/out stick

single leg planks, elongating (extend leg to intensify)

tricep push-ups with elbows going out to sides

pigeon pose to stretch each leg

bend back leg to stretch thigh of back leg

pyramid stretch by staggering legs

pike position, then into down dog

repeat other side

stretching arms by pressing palm; shoulder stretch

total 32:26

i was surprised that this video had not yet been reviewed. i am in a Firm renaissance at the moment, trying the BSS3 series for the first time. i'm a big Pam fan, so when i saw this at Yaya's, i had to get it. this was an add-on and not part of the original kit. i don't own the sculpting stick, but used a 12# weighted bar. for the twig work, i used 5# dumbbells.

this workout kind of reminds me of a more flowing and graceful BodyBar workout. it's easy to follow. although there isn't a need for low impact modifications, the modifier (Libby) is not viewable in the range of the camera. you see Pam in the middle and two people on the left and right (christa and steph) on their raised pedestals, but neither of these people are Libby. once in a while, the camera focuses on Libby only showing the modifications that she's doing.

i liked this workout - it flows and has a handful of creative moves using the stick.

amazon sellers seems to carry this workout on DVD. i don't see it on the collage website.