This latest Method tape provides more of an aerobic workout than the previous tapes, with less of that very precise Method instruction.

After the warmup, there are 4 step sections separated by brief toning intervals. The stepping is not really any more complicated than a Cathe tape, but I found it more difficult to learn. There’s a danciness to the style that doesn’t come naturally to me, and also there’s not much repitition once you’ve built up the combo. (A plus for the easily bored. Me, I like to repeat a combo a few times after going to the trouble of learning it.) After doing the tape three times, though, I’m able to follow most of it and enjoy it. The intensity I would call intermediate. There are some power moves.

The toning sections are very short - a set of rear dips off the step, holding a dowel for support, and a set of standing inner thigh raises, also holding the dowel. Picture yourself in a dance class doing leg work at the barre - that’s the feel.

The structure of the workout is warmup, first step combo, one leg’s worth of dips, second step combo, the other leg’s worth of dips, third step combo, one leg’s inner thigh lifts, fourth combo, other leg’s inner thigh lifts. Then you go through all four step combos again without pausing in between. This is the most fun part (or will be once I really master the moves.) Going through the finished step routines, without any teaching or building up, is a challenge choreographically, but you really feel like you’re dancing on the step. (At least when your not forgetting which way you’re supposed to be turning!)

I suspect you could raise the aerobic intensity of the workout by fast forwarding through the toning sections. They really bring the heart rate down, and as a devoted Firmie, I’m not convinced standing leg work without weights is going to give me any real benefits. The step sections are long enough to feel worthwhile, though - not like the aerobics in the All-in-One Workout, where your heartrate has barely started to climb when they stop for weight work.

The aerobics/toning workout is followed by a short abs workout. It’s more conventional than the previous Method ab work - there are crunches, reverse crunches and oblique twists that are pretty much the standard fare, although the style reminds you that you’re doing a Method tape. There are also a few straight-legged rollups and, of course, the Teaser. This section moves more briskly than other Method ab work, but the trade-off is less detailed instruction. It’s a trade-off I’m happy to make.

The final stretch is mostly yoga inspired. As a non-yoga person, I find it a bit challenging and only a little intimidating.

Instructor: Lisa Wheeler is a friendly but businesslike instructor. I liked her a lot. (I also love her haircut. Do you think a hairdresser would mind if I brought in an exercise video and said “here, watch this - that’s my haircut!”)The rest of the class includes two men and two women. One of the women I find really annoying. She seems very impressed with her own sexiness, and is so busy undulating her pelvis that she sometimes has trouble following the moves. Speaking of excessive sexiness, there’s one moment that rivals the Firm for pornographic weirdness. Lisa Wheeler is instructing you to move from the pelvis - a perfectly reasonable instruction - but then she says, in a really suggestive voice, “I know you know how to swing your pelvis!” Huh? It’s an isolated oddity, though.

Instructor Comments:
Instructor: Lisa Wheeler is a friendly but businesslike instructor. I liked her a lot. (I also love her haircut. Do you think a hairdresser would mind if I brought in an exercise video and said “here, watch this - that’s my haircut!”)The rest of the class includes two men and two women. One of the women I find really annoying. She seems very impressed with her own sexiness, and is so busy undulating her pelvis that she sometimes has trouble following the moves. Speaking of excessive sexiness, there’s one moment that rivals the Firm for pornographic weirdness. Lisa Wheeler is instructing you to move from the pelvis - a perfectly reasonable instruction - but then she says, in a really suggestive voice, “I know you know how to swing your pelvis!” Huh? It’s an isolated oddity, though.

Amy Kennett