CIA 9905: Non-Stop Workouts: Two Workouts in One

Franny Benedetto
Year Released: 1999

Categories: Step Aerobics


As is common with CIA tapes, this tape gives you two complete workouts, one hi-lo and one step. Both are terrific. The choreography is challenging and complex, but the format of "taking it from the top" makes it possible to learn quickly. Franny's great cuing is also a factor.

Both workouts begin with a warmup, then go into 40 minutes of intense aerobic activity. Both workouts also incorporate kickboxing moves. The hi-lo workout has you take a heartrate halfway through, and the step workout relies on the perceived exertion check. The step workout has a brief abs section at the end, the hi-lo workout is pure aerobics.

The hi-lo workout in this video was the first hi-lo workout that I'd done in years, and I'd forgotten how exhausting hi-lo can be. Step choreography is much easier to learn (IMO), and hi-lo takes up a lot of space. However, if you can move the furniture out of the way and concentrate, this hi-lo workout will reward you well. There are boxing and kickboxing moves, rocking horses, Roger Rabbits, and plenty of mambos and turns. The fact that it's fun makes it somewhat easier to learn.

The step portion, if anything, is even more fun. It includes combos like the nightmare and whirlybird, as well as karate kicks and hitch kicks. This video can stand up well in a comparison to Cathe Friedrich's PowerMax; I may someday decide that I actually like it better.

Both of the workouts on this video are Hall of Fame material.

Instructor Comments:
Franny is a delight. Her cuing is excellent, and she's such a sweetheart. Face it, how can I say anything mean about someone who, during the warmup with boxing moves, says, "get mad at me," then says, "I don't want you to get mad at me"? If you have trouble with accents, you should know that Franny is from Boston. I find her accent downright refreshing in a world of videos that don't seem to have any regional affiliation.

Mollie F.

12/13/1999