First time I tried it -- I was wondering if I'd ever do the video a second time. I got very frustrated -- kept getting on the wrong foot, missing cues, etc. I think the main problem was that I hadn't previewed it first. (Yes, even though it's a Crunch video and not considered advanced, yada yada.) I barely broke a sweat, mostly due to the fact that I kept stopping to see what I was supposed to be doing.

Now that I've done it a few more times -- I don't flub up the choreography too much now that I know it better. I do need to push a little harder to keep the intensity up, but I don't feel that I need to up the step to 8" in order to do that. (I usually use a 6" step since I'm 5'3" and it feels more comfortable that way.) I just make sure to use full range of motion on all the moves to get the most out of the video.

Good points:

• I like Kendall Hogan as an instructor. He can sometimes be a bit too perky, but for the most part he's motivating and enthusiastic.
• The choreography is fun. A little on the complex side, but it's broken down well. Nowhere nearly as intricate as a Cathe or Christi video.
• Some lower impact options are shown as alternatives to the higher impact moves. But the high impact that's included isn't too bad -- there's not much of it, and the impact isn't super-high.
• The Music!!! It's from my favorite Dynamix -- Instrumentally Yours #3. The same one that's used for Cathe's Interval Max. Except this uses different songs on the same tape -- only 2 or 3 of the songs are the same as ones on Interval Max.
• It's short -- a good, fun half-hour workout for weeknights. Not the most intense, but not overly easy.

Bad points:

• I found the background exercisers a tad distracting. A little too perky, and I usually prefer background exercisers to be just that -- in the background! I'd have preferred less emphasis on them, more on Kendall. As I do the video more and more, it gets easier to tune them out.
• If you're choreographically challenged, it might take a few tries to learn, but the choreography shouldn't be too difficult to pick up. You do need to pay attention, though, because there are some quick transitions.
• If you're an advanced exerciser, this could be used for a "light" day or when coming back from illness/injury. Making the movements bigger and more powerful, and maybe raising your step higher if you're not at full height already, can help make it more intense. I'd say this is a solid upper level beginner/low to mid intermediate tape.

Just as a point of reference, I consider myself a low-end advanced exerciser (where step is concerned, anyway). Lately, I've pretty much been doing only Cathe videos... which is why I got this one. I wanted a new video with an instructor I liked, but that would be good for a shorter, less intense workout day. I think this one's a keeper -- so far, I like it more every time I do the workout.

Lynne Lounsbury

01/25/2001