The Firm: Power Half Hour

Nice short, effective workout

I'm a teacher, and I can just about squeeze this workout in when I have an unassigned period. However, I usually arrive at school early enough to do this one all the way through. As with all Firm workouts, you can make it harder or easier by adding or removing weight. If you are short on time and need something quick and efficient, grab this workout.

I'm not really one to write reviews for things, but I feel as though these workouts deserve recognition. My first experience with The Firm was a few years ago when I decided to buy and try the Transfirmer series of workouts. I wasn't necessarily a beginner at that time, but man..those workouts kicked my butt! I then ordered the previous body sculpting series videos to rotate to avoid boredom. I had great success with them but for whatever reason, I ended up joining a local gym and the The Firm videos/step began collecting dust. Fast forward to present, a husband and almost 2 year old daughter later, I decided I needed something that worked for me at home bc trying to coordinate a toddler to your desired gym schedule isn't necessarily the easiest task (not to mention wasting so much gas). It dawned on me to re-order some of The Firm workouts, new and older DVDs; no more driving 30 minutes to the gym for me! Let me tell you, as someone who is by no means a beginner when it comes to fitness, these workouts are no joke. I got a better workout with these DVDs than I did at any class or time on the treadmill/elliptical. I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who wants to get in shape and get there FAST. I can tell a change in my body already-they promise results in 10 workouts, but you'll see it before then. Trust me. What's also great is that you can make them as easy or as challenging as you desire-increase or decrease your weight. Either way, you'll get a great workout!

This a fast-paced workout because it has to be. I’ve been in live classes where the pace and cueing is very similar. If you’re committed and doing it consistently you’ll get it down. Watching for the first time I definitely didn’t follow the routine perfectly, some it is due to the camera operators and the editing. In the credits it stated there were three cameras. They didn’t focus on Emily’s body when the moves changed which caused confusion. If you’re someone who has done these types of classes, give it a chance and do it a few times. The music is fun and the workout flies by. Emily and the other participants are very motivational and inspiring. This is a workout that will give you back what you put into it.

This is about 30 minutes long. It alternates between cardio intervals and sculpting moves. The cardio intervals are sometimes hard to follow because they change very quickly but this will improve with time and I was able to keep up for the most part. The moves ranged from athletic moves like jumping jacks to traditional v steps and repeaters to samba dancy moves to mild kickboxing. The hardest move was probably jumps 3 feet up in the air repeated 4 in a row at a time as part of a cardio burst.There are 3 exercisers including 1 who does the modifications the whole time. This means for example she never uses weights. The sculpting moves with weights start out slow and build on. Of course being the firm there are a lot of lunges and squats.I felt the ab work was limited in this routine although a few exercises were included at the end.The instructor is very peppy and talks a lot but says comments like she is really encouraging you and feeling what you do.I liked this workout bottom line because you get a good workout in 30 minutes. It's also been out awhile so it would be good inexpensive choice for someone wanting to get back into exercise.Can't wait to try the new firm express set!

After reading other reviews, I was skeptical of buying this DVD. I'm fairly new to the Firm series. However, I thought I would give it a try and see what it was like. After receiving it and going thru the routine a few times, I would have to agree that it is hard to follow in parts. Much harder to follow than the other Firm DVD's I have (Susan Harris Basics and Volume 3). Having said that, I now just do the parts of the DVD that use hand weights and are not aerobic (with the quickly changing moves and complicated steps). I run thru them each 2 times. I feel I get a good work out, I'm sweating and burning calories. I would recommend this DVD only if you are not easily frustrated with switching up your moves every couple of seconds with little or no warning. I'll stick to my other Firm DVD's and use this one only to change things up a bit :). Over all rating a 3 out of 5.

I'm really glad I bought this DVD despite some of the reviews! Even following the modified versions of the exercises without weights, I get a quick, fast-paced workout and have the sweat to prove it! The instructor does cue, you just have to pay attention to what she is saying since she doesn't always use common exercise terms. The movements are quick, so the routine can be hard to keep up with on the first try. But if you just keep moving and catch up to the instructor, you will still get a good workout. Some reviewers have complained about the music, but I don't even notice it until it's time to transition to another segment by marching in place, and then the beat is at a good volume to set the pace for the upcoming segment.

It's the classic moves from the firm, music it's better than usual. In order to learn the steps you may have to do a lot of rewind, and try again.

After having read the reviews on this DVD, I decided to go for it, basically because I needed something new which was not over 30 minutes and which could still give me a good workout. Also because, I must admit, I was feeling curious after the wide range of opinions about the instructor, her cueing, etc.After having done the workout twice, I must say I find it excellent. True, there is not much cueing, it's very fast paced, and the instructor is chatty to an almost impossible extent (how she can breathe and talk so much remains a mystery to me...). Having said this, there are a few things which need to be taken into account: 1) this is a fast-paced workout for when you're short of time and still want to sweat and feel you've done something. Full marks there, because it does what is says on the tin. 2) If it is only going to be 30 minutes long (and it doesn't go on for one second longer), there's not much time for detailed cueing and instruction. The idea is to watch it a few times before you take the plunge, which I did (and I'm an experienced exerciser). In this way, you get the hang of the moves and the overall routine much more easily. After that, practice will make you perfect in a couple of workouts, a few more if you're a bit clumsy, like so many of us are. 3) As for the chattiness of the instructor, I must say I found her reassuring, encouraging and overall nice and friendly. She introduces the moves and gradually adds on, so you have time to get familiar with them. True, there aren't many repetitions because, once again, the workout is meant to be quick and to the point, but the moves are not complicated, and they can be mastered in a couple of sessions by most of us.I'm a busy working mum with 3 children and I have to get up at 5.30am to do my workout, which I hardly ever miss for it gives me stamina for the rest of the day. This workout is ideal a) for those days when I'm short of time b) for those days when I've got some extra time and I want to combine it with a toning workout. On those lucky occasions, I usually do this first and then I wrap up my routine with The Firm's Total Body Toner or The Firm's Core Solutions. And, at the end of it, when the youngest one of my offspring usually starts wailing, I'm ready to start the day...!

Firm Master Instructor Emily Welsh is the lead in this DVD which claims to deliver "a body-firming, fat-burning workout in just half an hour". This is a tough intermediate DVD with beginner modifications also shown.The warm up sets the tone for the rest of the DVD - it's fast paced and quick changing but also fun. Emily doesn't waste a second in the warm up and then it's straight onto the first strength section.Like the warm up the two sections with weights are also fast moving. You'll need light and medium weights for these sections. The actual moves are not in themselves difficult - there are squats, lunges, bicep curls, tricep work, abductions, rows - however in order to make this a good fat burning DVD and in order to fit everything in, Emily moves quickly from one move to the other without that much warning. Like all the Firm DVDs, four limb movements are used to really maximise the time available. The second toning section (which comes after the first cardio section) also includes some balance moves which I found really challenging so it was nice to see Emily struggling to keep her balance as well. If you're a beginner or have never used a Firm DVD before then be warned that Emily doesn't stop to breakdown any of the moves (because there isn't enough time) so you'll probably have to watch the sections a few times first.The cardio sections are short but powerful and there isn't that much repetition of the moves which I liked. Again I didn't find any of the moves complicated, just be prepared to pause and rewind the first time you do this DVD because Emily doesn't slow down once. Both sections will get your heart rate up but I found the second section more intense than the first. There are kicks galore in the first section which also adds some heel digs, punches, knee raises and plie moves. The second section includes plyo moves, high knee running, hamstring curls and some killer cheerleader style jumps amongst plenty of other sweat inducing moves.The abs section is short but good and will also work your thighs. The cool down is a really nice end to the DVD.I found the instructor motivating throughout - she obviously loves working out and her enthusiasm is infectious. I couldn't believe how much she managed to fit into 30 minutes and unlike the majority of other short workouts, this one really did feel like a complete workout and I didn't feel that I'd only had half a workout and would have to do extra the next day.Being a 30 minute workout the tempo is fast and the moves quick changing because they have to be for an effective, fat blasting workout. Emily does not have time to explain each step of the the moves or start simple and then add on so be prepared to get a bit lost the first few times you do the DVD. I found Emily's cuing to be very good once I knew the moves so persevere and you'll end up doing a great workout.Regarding the studio setting which another reviewer has mentioned, it is the same one as used in Get Chisel'd, The 500 Calorie Workout, Cardio Dance Fusion, Cardio Core Fusion and Pump, Jump 'n Jab amongst others. It may not be the best but personally I didn't find it distracting and it's bright and cheery unlike the one that was used in Dangerous Curves Ahead.

This workout does get you moving around for half an hour but Emily speaks so quickly that it is difficult to keep up with. I'm sure the more you do the DVD the easier it will become to follow it but the presenter is rather annoying so it isn't a DVD that I'd chose to do that regularly. Some of the moves are complex and you do wonder if there is a risk of injury to yourself. There are much better DVD's out there - if you want a quick workout i'd go for Jillian Michaels 30 day shred which gives you 3 20 minute workouts at a really fast pace.

Firstly, this is a 30 minute workout - other reviewers have commented on poor direction etc., this is a 30 min workout - expect it to be tough, don't expect much tuition and run through of the moves 5 or six times to get used to them, Emily does do the resistance moves initially without weights then adds on, so she does not rush into them, the cardio is quite fast paced, but not impossible, if you have other Firm DVD's then you should be able to pick up the moves quite quickly. I would recommend watching this through first to grasp the pace and setup of the workout and moves before rushing into it, also try doing the beginner cardio moves with Kelsie, you soon find yourself picking up the faster more energetic moves without realising it!This does get you sweaty and you do feel like you have had a workout when finished, I am a massive fan of the Firm workouts, this one does not disappoint.

Is this video aimed at the participant, or the voyeur? I agree with the previous reviewer:I found the instructor very annoying but the cameraman is worse. Every time you really need to see the footwork he zooms in for a close up of Emily's cheesy smile (or belly button). Also the music doesn't really fit the moves (or vice versa). The choreography is challenging but fun and I will persevere but feel I need to watch it frame by frame to get the moves, for reasons previously stated.