Well, I like this tape. I'd done it a few times and couldn't figure out why I really wasn't enjoying it. Well, it was too hard for me!! I am an intermediate (been working out at home for 10 years off and on) with 3 little kids (4 and under) at home so I don't have tons of time to work out, lots of space to do it in or the ability to concentrate on complex choreography a la Cathe or CIA. So, Charlene's tapes fit my lifestyle perfectly. I have been doing her other step tapes on an 8 inch step and find them challenging but not impossible. Well, this tape was just not fun on an 8 inch step. Ten minutes into it you go into this intense lunge/ lunge repeater section and it was just levelling me. So...I tried it on a 4 inch step today (I know, 4" sounds so whimpy!!) and I got a great workout, had fun and was able to do the whole workout instead of stopping 30-35 minutes into it.

Charlene does it on a 10 inch step - crazy woman!! I don't know how she does it!! Renee and Christine are with her in this tape and the little, boring room/set didn't bother me.
Anyway, this is the lunge workout (like Cruising Altitude is the knee repeater workout). There are tons of lunges and she uses the turn straddle alot in the combinations too. She does a jump over the step without touching it move that was so much fun this time (on the 8" step I was fearing for my life). There's also a neat fast heel move on the step that was much better since on the 8" I actually fell off the back of my step and just missed landing on the baby which was sitting on the couch!! I'm not trying to scare you here and I'm not a clutz but for some reason these moves are fast and you really have to watch yourself. Other fun moves are a tick-tock repeater, a jumping knees repeater, a really fun alternating lunge repeater thingy and "hot sand" which I think is from Step it off, step it all off.

All in all a fun workout. Just so you know, I have tried Cathe and CIA and don't find them to my liking so if you like a really complex routine this may not be for you but the routines are long and complex enough to not be considered beginner. She just keeps things simpler but not by any means boring.

I will certainly keep this one in my rotation and may try it on a 6" step but the 4" was perfect and I didn't fall off my step or get too anaerobic but had a great steady workout and I can keep up with the FIRM tapes and NEVER work out on a 4" step usually so I'm no whimp!!

Instructor Comments:
Charlene is in such great shape it's disgusting!

Tammy Porter