How to Get in Shape for Your Wedding

Cathe Friedrich
Year Released: 1996

Categories: Step Aerobics


The set: very simple, wood floor, looks like a window in back...

The students: she has 4 girls doing the video with her... two of which do not appear skinny... nothing wrong with that... rare for exercise vids (except R. Simmons of course!) so that is inspiring in a way... since they all follow her almost effortlessly it seems.

Appearance: Cathe and her students DO perspire and their outfits look wet later in the workout...

Chattiness factor: Not much of it during the step portion, probably 'cause she's tired... but during the weight section she mentions wedding stuff a lot... and even honeymoon.... My DH walked in just as she was talking about that... and he turned around, eyes wide open... "DID she say 'Horny'?????"

Whooping factor: She whoops for a total of about 5 times in the first section and about 10 to 12 times in the second section... It is not distracting and it is not annoying... (One other tape I have by someone else, must've been 40 to 50 times of whooping and booms, and bams etc.)

The attire: one piece body suits, with lycra shorts... OK, dated.... but no leg warmers!!!

The music: Good beat, and many songs I recognise with
good beat.

The warmup: 10 minutes
She prepares you with 10 minutes of grapevines, basic stepping side steps and V steps.... and that's all she does for those 10 min... (very simple!)

The first step section: again basics, V-steps, L steps, repeaters, some power jumps, and rock horse (one foot on box, lift, one foot off box behind, lift) a lot of basic repetition...

The second step section: Contains T-steps, A steps, repeaters, lunges off the box, squats one foot on and one foot off the box, Power Jumps !!!, hops from one long end of box to the other end,, 4 times in a row, on numerous occasions... and intruduces the ricochet.... (the ricochet is where with one foot on box she jumps the other foot to opposite side of box) fun move...( but hard to learn for me!)
The second section has a lot of power moves... and will get you tired !!!!! I was perspiring !!!

Cool down and good stretch : 5 min

The Weight Workout: She tells you she is using 5 lbs but that you can use less if you are not used to it... even suggests 1 or 2 lbs.

Warmup: 8 min

weight moves progression:
squats (no weights)
lunges (no weights)
full arm side delts
upright rows
lat rows (one arm then other)
posterior delts
biceps
triceps dips off box
triceps kickbacks
pec work
pushups
bridgework
then laying on floor side leg lifts...
outer thigh
inner thigh
Abs
cool down - 5min


This workout is very good for beginners and for intro to Cathe... the majority of the step section has a lot of repeat movements, which are easier to follow - no intricate choreography here.

...

The amount of power moves keeps the intermediate and advanced motivated and you get a good workout...

Instructor Comments:
Cathe has a reputation that precedes her... In this tape she already has the same figure of her newer tapes... thin and shapely....(It is supposed to be one of her first... or am I wrong?) which made me ask myself... Is she naturally that way??

Sunshine

07/02/2003