I really like this video. It shortcomings (well, only one) is easily modifiable. The body of the workout is about 30 minutes, and it has a warmup and cooldown as well as an upper body warmup with light dumbbells.

Collage lists this video as intermediate-- no way. If you use weights that challenge you, your upper body will be limp as a noodle and you'll be sweating buckets when you're done no matter what level you are-- unusual for an upper body only tape.

This tape hits back, chest, triceps very, very thoroughly. It hits shoulders thoroughly. It is extremely lacking in the biceps department-- maybe one or two sets if that. Since there are so many one-armed rows, what I do is do double-armed bent rows for a couple of those sets, and then in the last 2 sets of one-armed rows (with Janet Jones), I substitute two sets of biceps concentration curls. It works out perfectly.

This tape uses all the best parts of the classics, I think. It uses those great one-armed triceps french presses from Vol. 3 so you can really isolate. It has several sets of rear delt flyes, which are usually lacking. It has many sets of pec flyes as well as endless pushups. Lots of lateral raises. When you need extra upper body work, go for this tape. You can't go wrong-- you can buy this tape for around $6 from 800.com and I've seen it pretty cheap elsewhere. It's even worth the $14.95 Collage charges for it, I think.

I feel most of the FIRM tapes don't provide adequate upper body work, and so this tape is a must since I focus on upper body and find it harder to develop than my legs. Highly recommended.

Instructor Comments:
All the instructors are from the Classic series. The "transition chick" is Deprise Brescia, and she doesn't do enough to merit a review. She's your typical, beautiful, polished, very thin, early FIRM instructor. The Hairless Wonder (Tracy James) is also featured in the beginning of this one, discussing upper body muscles.

Sara Whitney