This workout is available on VHS and is also on the second of the 2200 Series DVDs released by CIA on their website (www.ciavideo.com). In 2005, this DVD was released to the mass market under the name “CARDIO TRILOGY V.02” and is available at various online etailers, including www.deepdiscountdvd.com. This video is made up of two workouts, a step section by Ann Saldi and a boxing hi/lo workout by Debbie Burns.

I started Stepped Up Step by Ann Saldi once and didn’t even make it through the warm up. I don’t know what it was, but I HATED this workout on sight. Doing it was like watching paint dry to me – a totally boring exercise with no purpose. I never went back to watch it to analyze why I so hated it.

The other section, Knock-Out Hi/Lo by Debbie Burns, on the other hand, I LOVED on sight. This part of the workout makes buying the entire video, whether on VHS or DVD (at the cheaper, mass market price (preferably on sale!), of course), totally worth it. From the beginning of this workout, I was totally engaged and interested and with Debbie and her background exercisers. I even do the entire warm up to this workout!

OK. You probably want some details...

Debbie is backed up by four exercisers. She attributes a specific kickboxing expertise to all them as she introduces them. And, they all do seem to have good form – well, except for the one in the front that keeps hunching her shoulders. One of them demonstrates modifications part of the time. She’s in the back, so often don’t notice her modifications until part of the way through that particular exercise. And, she doesn’t do modifications all the time, so I forget to watch her. The set is one of the typical CIA sets, but I don’t even notice it as I go through the exercising because I’m so involved in the workout. The music is typical CIA music (instrumental), but it seems to work well with the moves in this workout. You do need room to move several feet side to side and front to back with this workout.

There is a lot of energy to this workout that gets me into it very quickly. Debbie gives form pointers at times throughout the workout, but does NOT teach the moves at all, so you need to know kickboxing moves already. She combines a mostly kickboxing workout with hi/lo movements and drills. There are a number of high-impact moves, but I have no problem modifying the impact down when necessary. As I said above, there is a modifier that shows some lower-impact options, but you can’t count on her doing them consistently.

Instructor Comments:
Debbie seems really passionate about the workout. She is very engaging and motivating throughout the workout.

Laura S.