Step Reebok: Extreme Step

Gin Miller
Year Released: 1998

Categories: Step Aerobics


When Gin Miller tells you the following workout it tough, believe her. At the very beginning she tells you to view the tape at least once, then do the modification, and take two days off between intensity-based training.

The choreography is basic which is good because of the various strength drills interspersed throughout the workout. There is an extra long (about 9 minute) warm up, she then teaches a connecting step which is cued by a another, probably to give her a break. There are intensity checks. I counted 6 or 7. After the first combination, Gin tea ches you the first strength segment which is a side-lateral pushup. She joins the cast and does it. Then comes another combination in which she introduces three airborne jacks. Add this to the first. Then there's my favorite, the athletic jump turns with push ups. About the turns. You chasse to the end of the step, do four jacks, then do your choice of a quarter turn, half turn 3/4 turn and a full turn. She recommends doing qurter and half turns on carpeted floors and 3/4 and full only if you are advanced. I'll stick with the quarter and halves for now. Right after your turns your go into elevated pushups off the side of the step. There are modifications of all exercises. Now, take a breath and do it from the top, that's right the beginning combination with side-lateral pushups. Connecting step then do it all again.

Gin cools you down before going on to weighted isolation work. She recommends light to medium weights for this kind of training. She used to be a bodybuilder so take her word for it. When she gets to the ab work and final stretch, she moves among the cast, now she doing one on one, more like a coach/teacher.

Advanced exercisers can add this to their Cathe Friedrich collection. For advanced intermediates, like myself, this will really kick your fitness level up several notches.

About the video, Reebok likes to come up with some unusual settings. This is not MTV-Industrial nor is it nightclubby. To me it's like a large warehouse with Steven Spielberg lighting and scaffolding. The camera shots and angles are excellent because you see what you should be doing when you need to do it. There are overhead shots, far away shots, close-up. The camera does focus on the exercisers when you need to see technique and form which is more important that locale and setting.

Along with Cathe's Bodymax, this is another great gym quality, athletic training video for the home exerciser.

Instructor Comments:
I describe Gin Miller's style of cuing as fun/funky. She repeats her cues to make sure you get it and also adds humor which I like. She has great interaction with the cast in this video, unlke her remote, dark Reebok video classics. I would like to see Reebok put out a serious, heavy duty weight training video like Cathe Friedrich or the Firm with Gin Miller, who used to be a bodybuilder back in the 80s before it got steriod crazy. With her teaching technique, throroughness and sense of humor, it should be great (if they decide to do it.) Anyone listening?

Jean L. Wakefield

09/19/1998