This review is for the cardio workout only. I didn't do the two toning workouts together on this DVD yet.

I thought this workout flew by. I didn't intend to do the whole thing, but the next thing I knew it was over. The impact was perfect. It is just the right blend of low and higher moves; and most jumps were on the step. This gives you the cardio effect of impact with a much softer surface for your joints. A very happy customer here!

The camera work was excellent; giving us a somewhat-overhead view to show the steps when going over two of the more difficult choreo sequences. The choreo wasn't very hard to pick up, due to a combo of good teaching and some repetition. Usually I have to do half of a workout twice the first (few) times to get the choreo, but I did this one straight through on the first try. There is a modifier who shows easier and lower impact moves. All 7 segments are repeated at the end in a short solo segment. Thumbs up!

TIFTing: a reasonable amount, considering the choreography. Only at one point did I think she did one set too many, but then we moved on. The choreo is more dancy than athletic, as you might have guessed from a fan of Fred Astaire. I made my arms "bigger" to create more intensity than as Heather taught.

There are turns in this workout, including the 3-count turn that Seasun taught in "TNS." There aren't anywhere as many turns as in TNS; though. I didn't get dizzy, but felt exhilarated from flying about. One segment uses 3 or 4 steps away from the step platform. Do you have space for that?

You might be surprised that there is no "official" cool down for the cardio. When you're done with the step section, you go on to the first toning segment (30 minutes). Heather and her crew are upright, so it looks like that would be your cooldown and you'd eventually find yourself doing toning on the ground. This is no biggie for me, as I consider video cooldown segments to be virtually superfulous. I always walk away and throw in a load of laundry, or gather up stuff for the shower (and then stretch!) The DVD makes it easy to skip to the stretch after puttering around to lower your heartrate.

Heather's workout style reminds me of Rob Glick. Both of them like to fly and are just having fun. I choose their videos on days when I want to dance, but don't want a heavy cardio dose. The music was good, and better than some previous CIAs. The set brings back the shoji screen from CIA set yore; but with a sponged brown background and sophisticated black and red touches.

I highly recommend this workout. It has earned a place in my very short list of regular, reliable workouts.

Instructor Comments:
Vivacious and funny instructor, and excellent at cueing. She made me laugh during a workout, and I was trying to be quiet while my husband was sleeping. Heather is a fan of Hollywood dance musicals; and uses moves like "the Fred Astaire" and others. She has a New York look in a black outfit and unfluffy hair (in a good way). She came off like a real person who likes what she does.

Katharine