#6 uses barbells which I don't have but I still enjoy
this one. I find it's relatively less challenging as
others.
Annie Jen
Jayne has a great smile and puts out a high level of
motivation. The video is one of my favorites. It
emphasizes cardio-vascular conditioning with the use of
relatively heavy weights. The moves are mostly slow and
smooth. This is one of my favorite workouts.
Doug Hering
Instructor comments: Jayne is an adequate instructor.
She could be a little bit better with her cueing. There
are several occasions when it is not clear what leg you
should be on, or which direction you should be going.
However, the choreography is basic, and after a couple
times through the workout, the issue of cueing
dissipates.
Some background on Jayne... the FIRM chose her because
she turned her life around. Jayne was very unfit and
overweight as a child and teenager. Her current level of
fitness is inspiring for beginners.
I think this FIRM tape would be the best one to pick
for older or beginning exercisers. The aerobic segment is
shorter than usual (about 35 minutes)and there is way
more stretching than usual. The aerobic portion consists
of extremely low-impact step/floor routines. This FIRM
tape uses a barbell, although dumbells would work just as
well. This tape has minimal floor work; just abs, pec
flies and bridge work. Unlike other FIRM tapes, this one
does not use ankle weights at all.
If you are an advanced exerciser, Volume Six probably
won't challenge you enough. But...I do like this workout
and I would definitely reccomend this FIRM tape to
someone who wants to get started with the FIRM. Doing
this tape for a while will help beginners build up to
more challenging FIRMS like Strong Heart and Strong Body.
Christine Letsky
The class uses a barbell for the workout, but I use
weights and they work fine. It's a total-body workout,
including upper body, abs, lower body, and some aerobic
segments. There's not much to say, really, about the
instructor. Her cueing is good and so is her form.
There is a section in here that is a killer. It's the
"hover squats," where you sit on your step and
then lift your bottom up for several counts, holding a
barbell or weights on your shoulders. I think it's meant
to work your buns, but it gets my quadriceps even more.
Also, the calf pumps are pretty intense, too. I don't
know what it is about them -- it's not really a long
segment, but you definitely feel it!
This is a great workout for shaping your lower body
and, to a lesser extent, your upper body. But it's not
the most fun or interesting FIRM workout ever made. I
rate it as a B.
Annie S.
After renting Volumes 1-5 and hating them all, this is
the first FIRM I liked enough to buy. The moves on 6 are
slower and controlled rather than fast and jerky, and
that alone makes this a 100% improvement. I like the
music better, and there's none of the sexy panting or
gratuitous crotch and butt close-ups that make the early
volumes resemble Playboy videos. Even though Vol. 6 is
aimed at "all ages", and some FIRM believers
think this is for beginners, the use of the barbell
rather than a body bar means you can add on weight at any
level. Just try doing those hover squats/overhead presses
with a 40 lb barbell, and then tell me this is a
beginner's workout! Negatives: The warmup is a joke -
some silly grinding and shimmying - so I either do a
cardio tape first or substitute a good warmup like the
one on Strong & Smooth Moves. The pulse checks are
nonsense, just numbers flashing while you're scrambling
for your weights. There should be more arm work; I
usually rewind and do a second set of the tricep
kickbacks. And those "internal contractions"
crack me up, especially when Jayne says
"Flutter!" OOOh baby, I'm fluttering!! I'm not
exactly "evangelical" about the FIRM, but this
is a pretty solid workout that should appeal to many
persons used to gym-style weight lifting. Grade: A-
Instructor comments: I once commented on
misc.fitness.aerobic that Jayne Poteet seems to have
walked out of a Duracell commercial. She's robotic even
by FIRM standards, and wears more makeup than RuPaul, but
at least she cues adequately and offers some form
pointers. Her monotone voice has kind of a hypnotizing
effect after awhile, almost like you're exercising in
some sci-fi movie.
Sue Bryant
7/17/97
After reviewing some of the comments made about this
video I thought I'd like to add my input.
I purchased this video 3 or 4 years; it was my 3rd Firm
purchase (I already owned Vols. 1 & 4). At the time I
was very disappointed and felt that I didn't get the
workout I was used to with the other two. Was I ever
wrong! The problem was that I didn't yet have a barbell
or a tall bench and was using my dumbells and step bench
for the leg lifts. Once I bought a tall box (and I got a
cheapie Rubbermaid) and used my hubby's barbell -- what a
difference! Love this video; I don't think it has any
floor legwork, but I notice that the very day after I do
it my clothes are looser around the bottom! I also love
the pelvic floor contractions; it reminds me to do them
when I'm doing my other workouts too. I do this one on
average of at least once a week.
I love Jayne Poteet; she's terrific; she must be 6
feet tall! Her cuing is great; the transitions are fairly
smooth; and she's quite inspirational.
Pamela
8/1/97
This is another well-produced workout from the folks
at the FIRM. This video is a good introduction to the
FIRM for the beginner who understands good form in
resistance moves. This is important because FIRM
instructors offer very little instruction, and in this
volume, she doesn't always use great form herself. This
is one of those workouts that the user can make easy or
killer, and still feel it at the end, but not feel
completely wasted at the end. You can adjust your box
height, and your weights to get as tough as you want.
Something about this workout, though, I always feel I've
worked out, but I don't feel dead when I'm done, no
matter how tough I've been on myself. The step aerobics
segments are very basic and could easily be done off the
step if preferred. The box work is a killer, from the leg
press to the hover squats (which I feel more in my quads
than glutes). Jayne Poteet is motivating and friendly.
What I don't like: the warm up- I'd rather do another
tape or hop on our Nordic Track. I just don't think this
warm up is very good. The stretches aren't really good
and I don't really feel ready to work out at the end. I'm
not sure why, maybe its the combination of moves or
something, but it doesn't work for me. The lat rows at
the same time- okay so its faster. I still don't like it.
I find that even if I use my heaviest dumbbells (25 lbs)
I still don't feel it. I prefer one side at a time. I can
really focus and concentrate that way and really feel it,
even using less weight. I also feel that way about the
tricep extensions, but not to the same degree. I find I
still feel it, but not as much, if I do both arms at
once. Finally, at the beginning of the tape, some guy
told me to wait for 20 questions... and it would explain
to me how to do the pelvic floor work (aka Kegels) in the
workout. So I waited till the end of the tape and it
never came on. While I already knew about Kegels, having
read about them in many magazines, I was a little
confused about why it wasn't included. Overall, this a
good workout, low impact, easy to follow, with a
motivating instructor. If you already have a clue about
form and resistance training, but still consider yourself
a beginner or new to the FIRM, this is a good FIRM to try
out first.
Instructor comments: Jayne Poteet is certainly a
glamorous, lovely person. I don't mind her accent at all,
but she does use a somewhat sexual tone in some of her
cuing. She makes "set up for leg press" sound
like a real "want you baby" line. Also, her
form isn't always great, and could be down right
dangerous for someone unfamiliar with resistance
training. To her credit, she seems very friendly, likable
and motivating. And while I don't blame her for the
camera work, can we get fewer crotch shots, please? I
thought the FIRM had rectified that in the 80's, but this
tape was made in the 90's, and I thought that by then
everyone realized that was a place we didn't need to go.
Linda
8/30/97
Well, this certainly isn't on the calliper of
Strength/Cardio, but it does seem better than the other
early Firms. Although we still have the same cheesy
music, there's isn't any of that silly hopping around and
those lying leg lifts that everyone knows I hate. Still,
there are some moves that just seem plain silly. After
leg presses, they do several calf pumps on one leg - what
is that? Does it do anything? And this is one of the
stupidest warm-up I've ever seen.
The aerobics sections are simple and low-impact,
mostly using the short box. I could've stood to work my
upper body a little more - in fact, right before abs I
hit the pause button and did several bicep curls.
This is not a tape I'll use often, but it'll be nice
to have around for days I'm kinda pooped or when I just
get tired of doing SB/SH over and over.
Instructor comments: Jayne Poteet is extremely
atttractive and fairly pleaseant. She could perhaps stand
to lose a bit of her accent, but that's my own personal
preference. She gives zero pointers on form, but I
suppose that's to be expected on an early Firm video.
Jen
8/31/97
My first thought when I saw this video was "How much makeup does Jayne have on? And why isn't it running off her face?" Makeup aside, this isn't a bad tape. As others have said, Vol. 6 a "lighter" Firm workout. I think it's less challenging b/c it's slower paced and there is less upper body work and no pushups, dips, lunges or floorwork--but you could really increase the weights to challenge yourself, which is what I do. Those hover squats are tough with heavy weights! There are also tall box leg presses and bridgework. The warm up and floor aerobics are laughable, but that is nothing new for the Firm. There are two box aerobics sequences, one with weights and one without. I use heavy dumbells, but I think a barbell would be easier to use. Heavy dumbells just feel unwieldy. A little more upper body work would have made this workout feel more complete, but this is still a good tape for days when you want something somewhat challenging but don't want to wipe yourself out completely.
Instructor comments: Jayne, like the other bland guest Firm instructors, is adequate. As usual, there are few pointers on proper form. She is so serious that she is unintentionally funny when she orders the class to "flutter."
Elaine C.
10/18/97
This video is tied with vol. 4 as my favorite "classic" firm video. When I am not motivated to workout at all, I can always convince myself to at least do this workout. I have fun with the box segments, and it really hits all parts of the body. I like the pec flies. I wish more workouts included them. Also, I like NOT doing pushups and floor work once and awhile. I think this tape is an excellent introduction to the Firm, and a tape that you can do for years to come. It also might be the tape that appeals most to men, due to its basic moves.
Instructor comments: I really like the instructor of this video. I find her accent charming, and I would love to have a figure like hers! I do think they put WAY too much makeup on her, though.
Loleen
17 Dec 97
I just did this video for the first time in a couple of years. It was easier than I remembered but not that easy-lugging around a 40 pd. barbell is work.
You know what else I've noticed about this video? Look at the cast members who were in Firms 1-5--they have more muscle definition in Vol. 6 than in Volumes 1-5. For me, this is the volume where I realized that heavy weights do pay off.
Instructor comments: I never noticed Jayne's makeup till I read
some of the other reviews of this tape.
Jayne is my favorite instructor of the FIRM
Volumes 1-6 because she seems the most real.
She is straining for some of the barbell
work and when she says "Can you feel this
working? I can." you can tell that she's
working hard too. That's a nice change from
most tapes where the instructor acts like
the workout is so easy.
Elizabeth
6-17-98
This is an all low impact workout using a step, tall box and barbell. I used this one alot in my pregnancy. I like to watch Jayne shake her hips at the beginning and then clap her hands and laugh as she goes to let all the exercisers in to workout. It is funny to watch Pam Cauthen come in and stretch up shyly or the blonde girl in the pink get hugged by the guy in yellow. You know he likes her. And then the last guy come in and jump up and down and almost knock over Jayne.. Ok, you know I like to see all the little details of the workout. The music is like a "best of" all the first 5 volumes with the warmup being a new song. The workout starts off with a great warmup with some really close up hip swivel filming and Tracie long's face in the back of the pelvis swiveling. The music is really upbeat and jazzy. The stretch is very thorough and uses a chair. You do the vagina squeezes( pelvic contractions is what they call it but It's not what I call them)and then show you how to do it with their fist squeezing. Even the guys are squeezing their fists...?? This workout has a nice variety of men in them. One is very muscly and uses a loaded barbell.
The workout starts off with some easy grapevines and leg sweeps to the back to music from Firm 2. Then you do some slow tempo steps with your barbell including some upright rows and overhead presses. The step aerobics is very very easy and uses no weights. The music is from Firm 4 for this section. The squat section is very very tough but effective. You also do upright rows and overhead presses with the barbell. The music is from Firm 2. The tall box work is done with the barbell and you do calf raises too. This is so tough. The music is from Firm 5. Then you do upper body work from the triceps( kickbacks), back(double arm rows and reverse flies). The music is from Firm 3. Then you do ab work using the tall box. You put your feet up on the tall box while you crunch. Jayne really gives some serious glares into the camera during the ab work! You wouldn't want to miss a rep! The music is from Firm 1. Then when you think you are finished, you do bridge work with chest flies to the music of Firm 3 tall box work. The cool down is the best of all the Firms. Very thorough and nice and long. The music is from the cool down from Firm 2 and Firm 5. I really think this is another excellent workout. Especially nice to do when you don't feel like jumping around but you still want a good workout.
Instructor comments: Jayne does a great job on cueing and form. She has a neat southern accent which gives this workout a unique touch. Everytime I do this workout, I think I'm working out with Amy Grant. Jayne has a perfect body. Not too muscular. Just right. Her smile is incredible and when she looks into the camera, it looks like she is looking right into your soul. She has that camera/eye touch. I love it when she says,"Can you feel it?, I can!"
Mandy Lee
10/7/98
I've had this video for awhile, but I haven't done it for awhile. My workout this morning inspired me to do a review. Though this workout is certainly not without its flaws, I really enjoy it. I wouldn't really recommend this as a video for beginners (mainly because of the lack of form pointers; for beginners wanting to start with The Firm I would say that the Basics series would be better), but for those familiar with proper form, it's a good, solid choice. The main glitch with cueing is during the leg press segments--Jayne cues right when she is using *her* right leg, instead of mirror cueing (same when she does leg presses on the left leg). The video falls a little short on the lat row/tricep kickback sections--there is only one (long) set of each, doing both arms at the same time. I find it harder to do both at the same time using proper form, so I have to use a slightly lower weight than usual. For an occasional workout though, I don't mind much. There also is no work for the inner thigh, but one could always substitute a set of plie squats for one of the hover squat sets if desired. As has been mentioned, it's kind of nice to not have to do lunges, dips, or pushups with every strength workout. There are two sets of pec flyes for the chest, though, so that muscle group is not neglected. It's also nice to have a video that is all low impact (both on the floor and on the step) for a change of pace. The stretch section at the end is longer than on most Firms, and really relaxing. This is a good choice for me when I want a workout that is somewhat challenging but far from killer, or when I am low on motivation. I'm glad I traded for this one!
Instructor comments: Jayne, as with several other Classic Firm instructors, gives minimal form pointers during the exercisers. Also, on some of the exercises, her form is questionable as well. That being said, I do like Jayne as an instructor. She is very fit, and lovely to watch and listen to. Although her sweat is never visible, she does comment a couple of times during the workout, "This is tough!" And she seems very sincere!
Kristin Aziz
KAziz@prodigy.net
5/3/99
This is one of those videos that I like some of and hate the rest. What I like: the hover squats, squats and tall step work (very effective, whatever weights you choose); basic step aerobics (nice break after those hover squats); towel stetch (not as good as vol. 2's, but still nice). What I dislike: the awful warm up (yuk. I just do another warm up from Kari Anderson or hop on the bike. Heck, I'll walk my dog instead); the warm up stretch (it doesn't feel good at all); those silly floor aerobics (they're supposed to be like skating moves but everyone looks like they're about snap their spines); using a barbell for shoulder work (it would appear that using dumbbells for these moves would be safer and have more benefit). I really think the Firm introed the barbell to make money because they don't seem to get much mileage out of it in this video. I understand some people might feel more comfortable using if for lower body work, but I would think dummbells would be safer, given the poor form the cast had using the barbell. This is the last thing I disliked about this video: the cast has very poor form in many spots. Upper bodies collapsing while stepping, knees overshooting toes on squats, backs hyperarched on rear extensions. Its amazing noone collapsed writhing in pain. And if a beginner follows them (or even Jayne), they might very well do just that. The ab work is good though, and there is brigde work too. The chest work is a couple sets of flies (maybe they should be grabbing their barbells for some presses too. If I'd have spent $50 on a barbell, I'd like to use it). Overall, the parts I like, I really like. If I start this video at the aerobics, after doing like the step section of 2 the Max, and ignore the cast and concentrate on my form and vary my weights depending on my mood, I find I get a very good work out. If you're new to firm but know about proper form, this is a good starter.
Instructor comments: Eegads! Someone take the putty knife away from whomever put on that make up!! To be fair, Jayne is okay. She seems friendly enough, but her cueing is off (not a big deal. these are very easy steps) and her form is lousy at times. She does not instruct, but merely leads the work out. She is glamorous and smiles a lot, but seems "canned" (just like the music)and very reliant on the script.
l'anne
7/12/99
Volume 6 was originally called the Boomers Workout and was meant for older exercisers. I don't know if I would hand this one to my mom to do, but if she asked for one of my "tough" workouts (which is what she tends to call my AWT videos), I would probably think of this one first.
I think that Jayne Poteet embodies what I think of as Southern belle. She is beautiful and fit and has that fabulous southern accent. She is decent at cuing and does her best to keep you going for the whole 52 minutes of the workout.
The workout is low impact, it is one of the first that really started the Firms obsession with equipment, you need a barbell, tall box, and dumbells...you can substitute dumbells for the barbell if you need to (I use a body bar, personally).
This workout is out of print and can be hard to acquire. Get it if you can. It is one I really enjoy and is, by far, my favorite of the classics.
Cori (ziggy2306)
February 24, 2004
I bought Vol. 6 and the FIRM barbell, which I unfortunately do not own any longer. Even though this workout is supposed be good for the older or beginner exerciser, it's hard. The hover squat section is a killer, and I felt it in my rear for days. I enjoyed the work with the barbell, yet after doing things like Get Ripped!, it doesn't seem adequate in comparison. Still, a solid AWT workout. Note: the comments about the "sexy" stuff always amuse me. I don't see any of this in these workouts; what I see are beautiful sets and makeup that was considered normal for the late 80s/early 90s.
Instructor comments:
Janye is a good instructor who was easy to follow.
theurbanhippie
6/25/08
