Gin Miller
2 parts 63 minutes long.
This video was created as a "video" workshop to introduce new choreography
and to show how new choreography can be created. However, it can also be
used as a tape to workout with. It is about 63 minutes long and is separated
into three parts: a step routine with the bench horizontal to the screen, a
step routine with the bench vertical to the screen, and a flexible strength
cooldown.
It's basically Gin Miller on a wooden deck outside at a retreat home of hers,
chatting and giving out pointers throughout the workout. The tape can be
intermediate to intermediate-advanced depending on the step height used. The
choreography also starts out basic and quickly progresses to more complex
patterns. One thing I particularly liked was that the pace was not as fast
as some tapes are currently being done at, allowing for better form. It is
also a great tape to use if you want to start increasing the level of your
step. One caveat, this video is not for beginners. It is best for people
who have been stepping a while and know the terminology, and can modify a
workout to their level.
The stepping routine contains mostly athletic moves and blends movement on
the floor as well as the step, similar to AeroStep. I liked that the
choreography progressed quickly because usually drawn-out "learning"
processes tend to kill the longevity of a tape for me. In the first part the
warm-up is repeated throughout the process, which gives the first part an
interval feel but didn't interfere with me dropping out of my cardio rate
since I used an 8 inch platform. There is a break, where you don't have to
turn off the tape you just get some water and turn your step and march in
place and then the second part begins.
In the second half you learn a new routine, then she throws a new aspect in,
she decides on the fly to do the same choreography that was used on the
horizontal section on the vertical section. You get to go along with her to
try and work out the choreography to fit this angle. It was a nice seeing how
she came up with ideas, and also what ideas I came up with. If you are
looking for a routine without this kind of interruption, don't get this tape.
However, I find the "play-time" here really interesting. I was thinking
that you could take another tape that you have (about a 30 minute sequence)
and then redo it trying the step in a different direction and see what you
came up with. You then take this new pattern and blend it with the vertical
routine you started with.
The last part of this is a flexible strength cooldown, simple and nice. I
try to stretch more afterward as well. There's not a lot of stretching in
this so you just have to do this on your own.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed doing this tape. When I watched it the
first time I was noticing the bugs flying around the camera from time to
time, and the fact that you couldn't always see Gin's that well in the first
part due to the tree patterns that went across the area. When you do the
tape you are focusing on the routine and spending more time listening and you
can here Gin's humor come through even more. This tape also reminded me on
what a great cuer Gin Miller is. I hope that she does another tape for home
use too in the future.
Instructor comments: Gin Miller is one of the most "at-ease" instructors I've seen in
front of the camera. She is amazingly strong and has a great sense of
humor/comedy. (I sometimes wonder if she does stand-up comedy.) Her ability
to give instruction is amazing. I didn't feel lost during the tape no matter
how much she added.
eenah@aol.com
7/2/00