I am embarrassed to say that I haven't even pre-ordered Cathe's new Body Blast series as my body needs a change after so many years of classic Firms and Cathe workouts. Part of my job is to teach balance and core training using the stability balls, which led me to Collage for some new tapes and ideas for classes.
Tracie Long was one of my favorite Firm instructors, so I decided to order Strong Bear and Fast Cheetah. These videos are absolutely fantastic, especially Fast Cheetah. The moves are brilliant and well choreographed but one must have a pretty good core base to start or risk possible injury to the spine. There is so much balance involved, while either tossing the medicine ball or lifting light weights. The jumps are optional and can be replaced with small squats.
I have done Fast Cheetah twice and Strong Bear only once. SB is a little bit more difficult to master and didn't excite me immediately like FC, but I think I'll grow into it. The balance involved in SB makes it difficult to really increase poundage for moves like leg presses and squats and there is more lower than upper body work in this video. There are some great variations on tricep dips and push-ups in both workouts, for example push-ups with one hand on the med ball and one on the floor while keeping one leg lifted off the floor.
For anyone thinking about these workouts - get them! Your body will be challenged in a completely different way and they are fun!
-Roe
Tracie Long was one of my favorite Firm instructors, so I decided to order Strong Bear and Fast Cheetah. These videos are absolutely fantastic, especially Fast Cheetah. The moves are brilliant and well choreographed but one must have a pretty good core base to start or risk possible injury to the spine. There is so much balance involved, while either tossing the medicine ball or lifting light weights. The jumps are optional and can be replaced with small squats.
I have done Fast Cheetah twice and Strong Bear only once. SB is a little bit more difficult to master and didn't excite me immediately like FC, but I think I'll grow into it. The balance involved in SB makes it difficult to really increase poundage for moves like leg presses and squats and there is more lower than upper body work in this video. There are some great variations on tricep dips and push-ups in both workouts, for example push-ups with one hand on the med ball and one on the floor while keeping one leg lifted off the floor.
For anyone thinking about these workouts - get them! Your body will be challenged in a completely different way and they are fun!
-Roe