1992, about 85 minutes total length
50 minutes aerobic step and warm up / cool down
35 minutes toning and stretching
This is a good video
for beginners. The routines are divided up into shorter
segments, and in each one Kathy Kaeler is working
one-on-one with a different "celebrity" - Jami
Gertz, Julianne Phillips, etc. This gives the video
variety, and keeps you from getting bored. The exercisers
share fitness tips and pointers about form while they are
working out, which were fairly interesting the first few
times, but became tedious after a few viewings.
The step routine is divided into three parts, and
begins very simply. Even an absolute beginner could
follow along easily. An intermediate section and an
advanced section follow, although even the advanced
section wasn't too challenging for a more experienced
exerciser. The workout was low-impact. I was less
impressed with the toning sections - they were effective,
but dull. Simple floor work, weight training and
stretching.
This video was widely available in video stores like
Blockbuster when it came out in 1992, and I've seen it
discounted there recently. For a beginner, this video
could be a good way to add some variety to your workout.
Karen Wheless
This video was so bad that I couldn't get past the first
1/2 hr! All she did was step up and down with hand
weights. BORING!!! I think I even taped over it. Keep in
mind that I am an advanced stepper, and I like a lot of
choreography. Therefore, stepping up and down
continually, even for just 5 minutes, does not cut the
mustard. There has to be more choreography to keep me
from getting bored.
If you like the choreography of
Cathe Friedrich, Lynn Brick, or Kari Anderson, STAY AWAY
FROM THIS VIDEO! Maybe it got better after the first 1/2
hr, but I couldn't even finish it to find out.
Kathy Lapinski
I bought this video some time ago due to some good
reviews in magazines. I have not done it in a long time,
so this review is from memory. There are three step
sections, which start out VERY basic. I only did the
first section one time. The second section is similar to
the first, but a little faster. I'm not sure any benefit
comes from using hand weights, as they do in the video.
The third section is more interesting, but not really
intense. Kathy and Julianne Phillips use weight vests and
I believe 10" steps here, which of course I didn't,
so maybe that was the problem=:) After that there are
various toning sections, pushups, abs, etc., then a
stretch. The toning is standard fare, and the banter with
the participants gets old fast. (i.e., "Do you know
what those side muscles are called?" "Umm, the
side muscles?" "Obliques.")
I really expected better; for a beginner this one may be
ok but I would definitely rent it first.
Angela Pahlow
This is an older video that I would put a huge CAUTION sign on. DON'T BUY THIS VIDEO UNLESS YOU PREVIEW IT FIRST. The techniques she uses are dated, to say nothing of having "guest" celebrity exercisers who really add nothing to the video, in fact they can be distracting. The woman in the first section is painfully thin (I know some people are naturally thin, and perhaps this fits here), and they talk about how she just had a baby and worked out to keep wt off, this was scary to me. There are 3 step sections that have very very basic moves, they get harder by first adding hand wts and then adding wt vests along with the hand wts. I occasionally like non-thinking tapes, but the moves here are too basic to interest most int or int/adv exercisers, also the last section is done with hand wts, a wt vest on a 10 inch step. Lots and lots of step ups, v-steps, straddles are most complex steps on this tape.
There are some toning sections that are basic and again there are different celebrities in part. The celebrity in the stretch made several distracting comments that disturbed the flow of the video.
This video might be for someone who is truly choreography impaired, and wants to use wts while stepping. But might I suggest a Gilad tape or Candace Copeland's Step Ahead, or even buns of steel instead?
Overall F for safety and fun.
Instructor comments: This is an older video and it shows. Kathy uses both hand weights and weight vests in the step portions. She also has a long motivational speech in the beginning and presents it with a monotone voice. Since I haven't viewed any of her newer videos, I really can't comment on her as an instructor overall, but in this video, she's not very good.
The guest exercisers, with the exception of Julianne Phillips were of no inspirational value, no muscles, questionable form, etc, although most were pleasant, they sometimes made insipid comments. Kathy looked like an amazon compared to them, and she's pretty tiny but well muscled.
LynnO
LOlson7988@aol.com
2/24/99