I enjoy this video more than I thought I would at first -- a nice surprise. After the warm-up, Cathe moves into a low impact floor combo, then some hi/lo. I usually modify the hi/lo to all low impact, and still manage to stay aerobic. (I make sure to really lift my knees high, and that does the trick.) Then, Cathe moves on to 3 kickbox circuits (kickboxing using the step) using a barbell, and 3 step circuits using dumbbells. NOTE: This video also counts as a leg workout! All the strength portions of the circuits are leg exercises -- squats, static lunges, lunges onto and off of the step. The choreography is Cathe's typical complex stuff in the step section. The hi/lo choreography is pretty traditional stuff -- knee lifts, kicks, hops, jumping jacks, etc.

The back work is very thorough, using dead rows, triple rows, quarter deadlifts, one-arm rows (using drop sets) and "supermans." Plank work, which works both the back and abs, is also included. Traditional ab work and a stretch round out the workout.

Instructor Comments:
Good cuing, except during the kickbox segment. Great form pointers... except during the first set of squats, when Cathe is having a little trouble getting the words out. ("Make sure your knee doesn't go past your heel... Actually, your toes shouldn't go past your shoes.") She gets it right on the next set of plie squats, though. ;-) But it gives me a good laugh every time I hear it...

Lynn Lounsbury