CIA 9806: A Step Workout

Shannon Anderson, Alison Boyd
Year Released: 1998

Categories: Step Aerobics


I’ve done this tape three times, and each time I like it better. (Probably because I can finally do the spliced part at the end and actually be facing the right way!) As others have said, the choreography is interesting and there are many familiar moves put together in new ways. You use all sides of the step and face all the walls, and also do a small number of moves on the floor. The choreography is complex, yet is taught so well that it’s not too difficult to catch on to. I love that I’m in my aerobic zone for a full 45 minutes, but I don’t keep watching the clock (as I do in some other videos). The time goes fast.

The intensity is low advanced. There are very few power moves, so I do this workout on an 8” step and I can really use and extend my whole body. (As a comparison, I do most Cathe Friedrich workouts on a 6” step.)

I think the one thing that keeps me from enjoying the workout more is the music. I’ve just heard it too much on other CIA videos.

The ab work at the end is excellent and tough! I can really feel it, and struggle through it a little.

Instructor Comments:
These two are very friendly and work well together. They seem “in sync” with each other. Overall they cue well and teach the combinations very well. I agree with the reviewer who said that it’s a little weird sometimes though, because at times they spend too much time on a basic move (example 3 V-steps and a knee-up), then not enough time when they put the moves all together in a combo. This is a small thing though.

Mary Truscott

04/16/2000