Video Fitness

CIA 5003

(Warmup 8 min; Hi/Lo 22 min; Step 30 min; Hi/Lo 30 min; Toning 25 Min)

This tape seems intended primarily for instructors. The second segment, P.J. O'Clair's step workout, is interesting because it includes lots of unusual, advanced steps such as hop-turn repeaters, repeater-arounds (where you repeat around the end of the step then skip back over the top), power lunges, power straddles and something called the "locomotion" where you go across the step and lunge off. (And I like P.J. because she has "real women's" legs; proof that you needn't be a Barbie doll to be a fitness pro.) But it, and the two hi-lo segments led by Greg Twombly and Franny Benedetto, are really more like demonstrations of steps, and how to teach them, than genuine dance routines. Franny does a very good strength training/abs segment at the end that uses the step, tubing and dumbbells; similar to the Firm but not as corny. :) But unless you're looking to learn and practice unusual steps for creating your own classes, the other segments are dispensable.

Sue Bryant

Greg Twomby begins with an 8 minute warm-up and goes into a super fast hi/lo impact floor aerobics segment. Although only 22 minutes, it is an excellent workout, very powerful and fun. I absolutely love Greg on all his CIA tapes. His moves are easy to follow but very powerful and high impact. No hesitation, no marching in place, just right into the moves.

Following Greg's routine, PJ O'Clair does an adequate step workout for 30 minutes which has some interesting moves and high impact bursts. After PJ comes the one and only Franny - yes, the same Franny from Boston Marathon and Two Workouts with a Venegance and CIA 3004. On this video, her moves and cuing are not as good as Boston Marathon. Nevertheless, Franny is great - the impact is high, the music is great (from Candace Step 'N Low and Karen's Power Packed Workout). CIA 5003 has the same instructors as 3004: Greg, PJ, and Franny. Franny does a segment using the step and the workout strap for upper body, which was very good, and I rewound to repeat the segments as she suggested. She does push-ups, squats with weights, a very short ab segment (only three minutes), and stretch. All in all, a great video and for $5.00, how could you go wrong?

Instructor comments: Greg Twomby is my favorite male aerobics instructor, easy but powerful moves, keeps up the heartrate with continuous high impact moves in all his workouts. Franny is one of the best also. I didn't care for PJ on 3004, but on 5003 her moves were very strong, powerful and fun.

Maryann Parker
11/11/97

Greg Twombly starts this 2-hour workout with a warmup and then 22 minutes of high/low. I really like his routine. The music is excellent, and the choreography goes very well with it. I especially like the "fast heels" move.

Second, P.J. O'Clair takes over with step for 30 minutes. She's wonderful, too, and the music continues to be good. Her choreography just seems to flow.

Then there is Franny Benedetto with more high/low for another 30 minutes. The music in this part doesn't appeal to me as much as the first two sections. Her routine is good, but I think the high/low she does in 7005 is a lot more fun. Don't get me wrong, though, I still like this one. Finally, the fourth section is Franny again with sculpting (30 minutes). This is "okay" for a light sculpting day, or as an extended cooldown.

I like to do all 2 hours of this tape at once on my "long" days when I have extra time. It's a lot of fun and the time flies by. I definitely rank this one as an A.

Instructor comments: All three instructors are excellent in this workout.

Annie S.
11/28/97


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