I've been exercising for only about a year, and I consider myself an intermediate exerciser. I cannot do high impact moves, so I love step aerobics because I can get my heart rate up without the strain on my joints. Also I The Firm so when I discovered they had an all step aerobics tape, I was ecstatic. This workout is primarily low impact, but does have some high impact moves. I found them fairly easy to modify. I think this tape is suitable for both intermediates and advanced. For beginners, you could do what I started out doing when I first did step aerobics: Do one segment on the step and the next on the floor and alternate until you are fit enough to do the whole thing on the step. The moves aren't complex on this tape so almost everyone can do this workout.

What you need: Short Aerobic step (the firms usual 14" box is not needed in this workout), light dumb bells, a dowel and a towel for the stretch at the end.

It starts with a thorough warm up from Fatblaster with Allie. Step aerobics begins with Hiedi from Firm Cardio. Then some fun fast paced step low impact with some kicks, punches and mamba moves with Dale from Power Cardio. Back to Fatblaster with Nancy Tucker taking us through dips, knee lifts and kicks with a dowel for balance with one weight in the hand not holding onto the dowel. Four limb movements, using step as a prop more than an aerobics step from Maximum Cardio with Carissa. She then has us put down the wieghts for some basic but fun step moves. Tracie takes us to the only segment of The Hare that has traditional step aerobics (as opposed to ballroom aerobics), which is also fun. Then Lisa from Fatblaster, with more low impact moves that are very basic (advanced could probably step these up by hopping when traveling across the step). As for me, its perfect for my low-impact-happy knees. Allie from The Supershapers series takes us thru some 4 limb on the step. (Loved the music in this segment).

Then Tamela from Cardio Burn does some punches and kicks on the step. This part really got my heartrate going. This instructor seems to be suppressing her enthusiasm. I got the feeling The Firm format is almost a little stiff for her. She seems ready to burst with energy!

Back to fatblaster with Lisa. This segment bored me a little with 3 moves repeated over and over. The next 3 segments are Carissa, there are some higher impact moves through here and more 4 limb. Then we go back to Firm Cardio. I like Heidi's instruction. She has a soothing voice.

More 4 limb with Nancy, not using the step much in this section. I used heavier weights in this section and concentrated on my arms since my feet werent doing much.

On to Jennifer from Supershapers, "shuffling" across the box. This is one of my fave sections. The music was really cool, but the segment was too short. Back to Tracie from the Hare in another non-ballroom segment. This is pretty much the cool down.

Then we hit the floor with Tamela. I hate doing abs but Tamela seemed so happy doing them that I figured the least I could do is try to keep up and maybe I'll be that happy to do abs (yeah right). As I sighed with relief when this segment ended, Tracie showed up and made me do more. Advanced may not find it that difficult, but personally I didn't find it to be that easy. Tracie then takes us through I nice thorough stretch, which felt great.

In closing, anyone who likes The Firm but has been hoping for primarily aerobics, this may be what you've been wanting.

For those who want to know, 3 min warm up, 49 min of step aerobics, 6.5 min abs, 3.5 stretch. There are no significant toning sections in this tape. I bought this tape with The Firm Boot Camp 3 in 1, which i havent done yet. They were having a sale on Firmdirect.

Instructor Comments:
All the instructors are excellent in their cueing and they all have great form. Jennifer, Heidi and Tracie are my faves, but the other ladies do a great job as well.

Tammy