I haven't enjoyed hi/lo this much in a long time. I have been trading many of my hi/lo tapes because I don't teach it that much anymore and I usually don't get my heart rate to where I like it to be.

This tape is making me rethink that whole scenario. Shannon Salisbury and Alison Boyd work beautifully together. They are fun to watch as they alternate their respective routines without a hitch. They are attractive, energetic personalities, without being over the top.

As for the workout, the combos are do-able, but interesting enough to see how they will be put together. There is some tricky (but not dancey) choreography that may take 2-3 times to hit it just right, but once you have the moves, they are yours. My heart rate got up during the power moves, but happily my knees did not suffer due to the number of sufficient low moves that would follow.

As with most CIAs, it has a long warm-up, with a simple, but fun combo and good stretches (I already used the whole warm-up in a hi/lo class I had to sub and it was wonderfully received!). The beginning part of the workout goes for about 25 minutes and covers several combos, put together by the sisters. There is not a lot from the tipsy top, just from the top of the two intermingled combos, so the boredom factor was non-existent.

The sisters put together different variations of traditional moves like grapevines, ham curls, tick tocks, kick forward, slides and power squats. One combo has a grapevine right, several ponies to the right (kind of like a rocking horse push pull move) 3 ham curls and a jog/jog and then more. I just love how I don't feel like I am tripping over myself. Your feet actually go where they are should!

The Power Mat is a nice series of core conditioning traditional Pilates moves with Shannon's athletic twist to them. Her form is good, but not Moira Stott perfect. Does that detract from the exercises? Not at all. She is real and knows her physiology and anatomy. She states how you need to keep your body situated throughout. She and her sister demonstrate all levels of the exercises, which for me as an instructor is a must. She does the 100, leg circles, scissors, swimming (good variations), plank, knee drops etc. all with a nice twist.

Is this a keeper? Most definitely!

Janet O'Neil