I am currently going through all of my workout DVDs to see which ones I will keep and which ones I will let go. I'm trying to keep a variety of options for when I need easier workouts and when I work up to harder workouts. I've been coming back since the begining of the year from a really bad fitness year last year and I would say that I'm up to a high beginner or into intermediate - depending on the day and the workout.

This DVD seems to be a great one for me to keep because of all of that. It seems like it would be a good beginners to intermediates. This is a beginner workout can be used by both newbies and experienced exercisers who are restarting, dialing things back, facing time crunches, or just wanting easier workouts. There is some minimal choreography, but Petra's cueing is so good and it's not very complicated, so it should be accessible to most people.

I was just so glad to see a DVD that takes advantage of DVD techlology. (Go figure.) The dvd includes four different segments, two labeled as athletic and two labeled as dancey, and you can program the DVD to play them in any order. Each segment starts with a quick warm up and then builds into one big combo after Petra teaches a few steps together at a time, and then you’ll TIFT (take it from the top). She builds the combinations slowly, taking it from the top as she goes, and then she does the final combo serveral times.

There are two background exercisers who do the work out as is. Once in awhile, Petra does an easier version of a move while the background exercisers do the harder verion (as in a mambo vs. a pivot). The music is typical instrumental. A couple of times, Petra talks about working out to "some great music" and I kept waiting for it, but it never started.

The best part of this workout is Petra herself. Her cuing is excellent and constant; generally, she cues just ahead of the move. she also mirror cues except for a couple of times she apparently forgets about it. She's enthusiastic and is very supportive of you doing what is good for you. Throughout the workout, she encourages you to do what is good for you (whether or not to add arms to the leg movements, adding more intensity or not, etc.)

Overall, I like this workout, although the TIFTing does get to me sometimes. I use this workout when I'm in a tired place and don't have a lot of energy. Petra keeps me with her and motivated to finish the workout. When I have more brain power, I find the TIFTing can make the workout seem longer than it is.

Instructor Comments:
She is enthusiastic and supportive and a breath of fresh air.

Laura S.