As an high intermediate exerciser I found this video to be a good workout and lots of fun.

The video is structured with a good solid warmup (8 min)and the same kind of "active" stretch that Petra does on Rhythmic Power. The actual cardio segment (36 min) is one long dancy combination. She breaks the routine up into three segments, teaching section 1, then section 2, then adding the two together, then teaching section 3, then ending with one time through the entire thing. The final cooldown and stretch is 5 minutes.

The choreography seems to be very creative in this video. (NOTE: I have never done the famous Cathe Friedrich so I have no idea how this compares in complexity.) I usually pick choreography right up but I had to really focus on this video. I did find I was doing everything right by the end of the first time through.

I would say this is the most fun of the crop of intermediate/advanced level stuff I've seen. The basic moves in Reebok The Video get old pretty quick, and even my beloved Keli Roberts RealFitness is pretty basic choreography compared to this. Petra makes up some weird little combos like a "chug" repeater--knee up off the side of the bench then a 3 count stomp thing moving back around the side. There's also a pretty complicated little "corkscrew" step that is annoying at first but turns out to be a really fun combination.

From looking at other reviews of Petra's stuff on this site, I'm sure that her intensity level is probably way below what most of the advanced exercisers are going to need, but I found it to be a great workout for my fitness level. Anyone who needs an intermediate to advanced level intensity, but who is sick of basic steps and choreography, should check out this video. Just don't give up on the "dancy" moves--if you follow her breakdowns they end up being doable.

One warning about impact, Collage rates this video as low impact but I would call it Mixed. There are several power moves like a run, a hop kick. I was able to do all of them without much trouble and there's nothing very intense. But you do hop just a bit.

This is a nice set too. It's got the MTV warehouse feel, but it's not really very dark and gloomy because of the way they are lit. There is one annoying lighting effect during the cooldown where they light everyone from below. It makes quite a glare off the TV. Mercifully this little effect doesn't last very long.

Instructor Comments:
Petra is very clear and very motivating. She makes the workout fun. She encourages you to modify if you need to, but nobody on the tape shows a modified version.

Micki Voelkel