Arth-Tavia Devon-Majorome
This is my favorite of the new batch of CIAs. The step and high-low are each about 30 minutes. Arth has a somewhat different style of teaching. He repeats a combo a lot, but he continues to layer in new variations throughout. While I found his style and workout fun and refreshing for 30 minutes, I might have gotten bored with the style if it was much longer. As it stands, both the step and high-low are a lot of fun. I actually liked the high-low a little more than the step, but that’s a compliment for the high-low, not a negative about the step! Arth has a great personality and tons of enthusiasm. I hope to see more from him. Grade A.
Annie S.
4-15-2004
I finally got around to trying this
from my burgeoning virgin
workout pile. I really, really
enjoyed the 20-minute step and
30-minute cardio. But for those
allergic to a lot of TIFTTing, a
word of caution--this is highly
reminescent of Harold Sanco's
Urban Training in its repetition. I
didn't mind it so much because
the steps are creative and fun;
moreover, I usually take a lot of
repeated tries to get a combo
down perfectly. However, even I
was starting to get just a little bit
tired from the constant repetition
of the hi-lo routine!
First there is a vertical step
workout. He breaks down each
segment--sometimes just a
single new move, then has you
do it from the top. Knee-ups,
mambo on the step, over the top
with back foot behind, a sort of
box step on the step, and
diagonal cross over into box
step and shuffle back--those are
the moves I can remember,
there may be one or two more.
It's pretty low-impact for the most
part but gave a solid
high-intermediate workout.
The hi-lo has you stepping back,
turning into a leap-box step and
a three-shuffle into sashay (I
know I'm not describing this very
clearly!) Let's just say there are a
lot of stylized shuffles, box steps,
knee ups and twirls, with a few
jumps but not enough to qualify
this as very high impact. He
definitely jazzes up the moves
(and one of the background
exercisers either is a pro dancer
or fakes it extremely well!)
Unfortunately, in both workouts
the music is pretty quiet and
nondescript--I personally feel
that for his style and flair, a
hip-hop, house or even one of
the pulsing Dynamix classic
tracks would've been much
better for the workout.
Arth-Tavia keeps you going
through the endless TIFTT-ing
with humor...during the three
sets of shuffles he'll say,
"Yeess? Nooo? Yeess!" He
jokes during the stepping "I
know in my heard and my soul
that you all got this move!"
Ab work is short and basic, just
crunches with variations on the
rhythm.
Typical new CIA set with orange
sun and glossy shelves of
designer glassware.
I really hope Arth-Tavia, like
Harold Sanco, will come out with
more long cardio workouts that
include more moves and less
repetition. Putting these two
workouts together created a
reasonably sweaty 50-minute
session but I did get close to
being sick of the combos!
Instructor comments:
He is fabulous--stylish,
humorous and easy on the
eyes. His "drama" comments
remind me a bit of Donna
Richardson or Victoria Johnson.
A bit of a ham, deservedly so.
Great cuer--shows you the new
step, then encourages you to try
it. I want more videos from him!
acey
4/20/05