The Firm Parts: Cardio Step Mix

Lisa Kay, Nancy Tucker, Tracie Long, Heidi Tanner, Jen Carman, Tamela Hastie, Carissa Foster, Dale Brabham, Allie Strickland
Year Released: 1999

Categories: Step Aerobics


I never thought that I would like a Firm Cardio tape. They are more known for their strength segments. I wasn't even going to buy this tape. But I wanted to take advantage of their Buy 3/Get 1 free special. I'm so glad that I bought it. This tape is fun. It has a lot of my favorite step segments. It has the finale from the Hare tape. This section does not have ballroom aerobics. It's funny though because I remember it being the toughest section in the Hare and in this tape, it's one of the easier ones. It also has Carissa's step segments in the Blast series. I love those hesitation repeaters and the music in her sections. Other favorites are Dale's & Tamela's step sections with karate kicks and Jen's mambo/shuffle from Super Cardio.
This tape is good for people who want a low impact tape. It doesn't have any plyos which other Firm cardio videos have. It is not really tough but it can be made more difficult. One can always add power/jumping to some of the moves. There are also some step segments where I use the long side of the bench. Most of them are the segments that have over the top. They are Lisa's L-step/over the top, Heidi's over the top with some squats, and Tamela's over the top with lunges. When I did Tamela's section this way, the lunges went laterally like what Cathe does in Step Works. Whew, that made that section really hard!! I also used the step the long way for Jen's mambo/shuffle. It didn't make that section tougher but I just love that shuffle move that I wanted to enjoy it more. As Tamela would say, "That was fun!"

Instructor Comments:
It's nice to have a variety of instructors. It makes the time go by fast. Carissa could have cued better in her walk the box step portion. Tamela could have cued better in her lunge portion. But if you do the tape often enough, you can get the moves.

Helen Stephens

04/01/2000