Power Step Workout

Kathy Smith
Year Released: 1994

Categories: Step Aerobics


This was my first video, and I believe that I could not have chosen better. Like Kathy's first step video, this one is also divided into three distinct segments, beginner, inter- mediate and advanced, and like her first, it is easy to fast forward to the end to cool-down if you are not able to do the entire tape. However, this tape continues to be a challenge as you advance as an exerciser, because nearly every move is presented in both a low-impact and a power version, and if you do all of the power moves, the 52-minute workout becomes quite a challenge.

After the warm-up, which has many of the moves from Kathy's Great Buns and Thighs video, Part One is mostly basic steps with a few "power holds" (hopping up on the step one one foot)at the end. Part Two is significantly more difficult, with repeated jumps over the step length-wise, more power holds, a fun lunge section, and a straddle/charleston combination at the end. Part Three includes quite a few jumps, scissor jumps over the bench, T-steps, U-steps and a more challenging lunge sequence. The Cool-down is effective and has some stretches.

Each segment is 13-minutes, and there are two ten-second pulse counts. I enjoyed beginning with this tape because it was easy to work toward goals, and because even as I have advanced, I still consider this a fairly long and challenging workout (provided I do all the power moves). The music is not nearly as much fun as that in the Great Buns and Thighs video, but the production value is much better.

Robin Mordfin

11/30/-0001