I really, really love this video. It quietly slipped by me, because it didn't garner as much "buzz" on VF as some of the CIA hi-lo tapes. But it definitely outshines many of them, in my opinion.

Kari melds together some beautiful combinations. My favorite move is her pivoting lunges that you perform while twirling around. It's hard to describe, because I've never seen anything quite like it. Rather than have you move laterally all the time, Kari has you moving vertically: Walking toward the t.v. with a knee up, lunging vertically, running forward with kicks. It makes things *so* much more varied.

Kari also doesn't choreograph in left-right block format. Her transitions are perfectly timed so that they move you from the left foot to the right foot through carefully timed transitional moves. I really love this, especially since other instructors (Cathe included) don't use teach this way as much.

On intensity: This video is pretty high impact. Towards the end, everything is done running, hopping, or leaping. If you go all out, I think you'll get a nice advanced (though not killer) hi-lo workout.

On the take it to the top ISSUE: Kari does add on to moves and does a full run through of all the moves about 4 times. But Kari's version of "take it to the top" isn't used as a stall tactic or for filler. Like many other VFers, I can't stand it when an instructor goes back to the top every time she adds a knee up. (bleh). The repetition in this one was perfect. Especially because you'll need some time to perfect the transitions.

This is one wonderful hi-lo video. I think I enjoy it more than CIA 9801 with Christi Taylor. So sorry I didn't find it sooner.

Instructor Comments:
Kari is really the only video instructor I know who can take the "one-on-one instruction" format and make it seem fun and lively! She's so charismatic, charming, and at ease with the camera.

It's taken me a while to grow into Kari. I didn't really like some of her earlier tapes, as hard as I've tried. This tape probably appeals to me because it's dancy, without being dorky, if that makes any sense. Before some of Kari's move struck me as too floppy and goofy. Not here!

Eulonda Skyles