I love, love, love this video!! For a little background, I am an advanced exerciser who has experience with other interval tapes such as Intense Moves and Interval Max. I have (and love) two other tapes by Mindy - 2K02 and Medicine Ball Training - so I knew that I would like her style.

The interval section is broken up into step (about 28 minutes) and hi-lo (about 23 minutes). The step section is divided between a horizontal step section and a vertical step section. After a short step warm-up that has a fun little hamstring curl/hesitation move, Mindy gets down to business. The first few intervals involve a lot of fast footwork - the "fast pirate," some football moves (the Big Bad Blocker is back from 2K02), and a totally fun cheerleader section. Why don't more tapes incorporate cheerleader moves?! After a couple more intervals you turn your step vertically for about five intervals. I didn't think these intervals were quite as tough as the others, but they were interesting and pretty fun. Next you move on to hi-lo, which was a total blast. Mindy mentions that hi-lo is her forte and I can believe it! Intervals during the hi-lo section incorporate ski jumps, plyo scissors, lunge variations, plyo jumps and a fun sports finale with basketball, football, cheerleading, boxing and skiing moves. There's a short cool-down and that's it!

For me, the major difference between this interval tape and the ones mentioned above is the fun factor. The intensity is the same, but 2101 leaves me beaming and energized instead of panting and drained. The intervals themselves are shorter and they aren't as repetitive and homogenous as in other interval tapes. For example, in one interval you do four squat jumps on the step, then a mambo, then an L-step off the step, then three over-the-tops. In the next, you do some fast footwork over the step, then diagonally over the step, then over again, then jump up. It is pretty high impact, but so are the other interval tapes. I like high impact - but if you don't, this tape isn't for you. One note - for the sections with the fast footwork, I use a 6" step (like Mindy). I'm 5'7" and usually use an 8" step, but when I tried it at 8" I tripped around and couldn't keep up.

Pump party is a 45 minute light-to-medium weight strength workout. I don't have a body bar, so I had trouble at first trying to figure out what dumbbells to use. I ended up staying with 8's and 10's for most of it. She does some neat compound moves - the best was a dip with a kick and an overhead press - and more or less hits each of the major muscle groups. It's no MIS, but fun and efficient total-body strength work.

Another highlight is the music - WOW. It's upbeat and contemporary, and they really did a great job matching the music to the moves.

Instructor Comments:
This tape sealed the deal - Mindy is one of my all-time favorite instructors. I love her laid-back style, I think she is absolutely hilarious, and I love that she can make an ultra-tough tape seem like playtime. Her background exercisers are fun, too - high five, Joe!

Elizabeth Love