The Firm: Core Cardio

Tamela Hastie, Carissa Foster, Dale Brabham
Year Released: 1999

Categories: Floor Aerobics/Hi-Lo/Dance


I guess I must be the world's biggest oddball, in terms of liking the Firm tapes that no one else likes and vice versa. I just got my package of the CC and T&A tapes and tried CC1 first -- and am PRAYING that I'll like at least one of the other two and not have completely wasted my money! IMHO:

#1, the choreography is BORING, uncreative and too high-impact (especially for someone like me with chronic plantar fasciitis) -- seemed like most of the workout was running in place, plyo jumps, bunny hops and jacks. Seems like the objective was to appeal to the Cathe market for high intensity, boot-camp-style cardio, and to hell with having any fun. In fact, my hunch is that the reason they added the ball to the workout is to give the illusion of "fun" because the tape is basically a lot of boring jumping up and down. But I don't think the ball really serves any purpose at all -- it's just kind of "there" and they don't do anything particularly fun with it.

#2, the only instructor that I kind-of like is Carissa Foster. Tamela is like LaReine Chabut all over again -- sounds like an airhead, her smiles seem forced, and I get sick of her saying "This is fun!" every 5 minutes. And, sorry to be catty, but Dale is just too butch for me -- that's all I can say.

#3, I think the cueing is lousy and it bugs me that they don't break down any of the steps or demonstrate them at a slightly slower pace; it's just race, race, race all the way through it.

Sooo-- any of you who are still sitting on the fence about ordering these workouts -- maybe you'll want to wait for more reviews to come in, esp. if you're not ultra-advanced or you don't like high-impact. In the meantime, it's back to the old Firms and Tri-Trainers for me!

Anne Powell

04/01/1999