Take Another Step

Charlene Prickett
Year Released: 1998

Categories: Step Aerobics


A few things about me before I review the tape: I'm an intermediate exerciser who has only recently rediscovered step due to finally getting a new, regular-sized step and a new wooden floor (as opposed to the disgusting carpeting over the slab I had to deal with before). I decided on this tape after I got sick of doing the only 2 step tapes I had in my collection, and I only found out about this tape because I clicked on Charlene's name in the Instructor Index; this tape doesn't show up on the Step Aerobics Index at all. What's up with that?

But on to the tape. This is a solid, fun intermediate tape. It starts out with a nice warm up, with a grapevine across and step touches on the step, then onto some good stretches for hip flexors and hamstrings. Then it's on to the stepping portion, where there's a slew of fun steps. Knees off the side, straddles, a basketball shooting move, turns and hops around the step; Charlene will keep you going without repeating a sequence. Yup, no TIFTing (Taking It From the Top) here, which really keeps it moving along. I sweated quite a bit on this one, and I'm only using a 4" step!

After the stepping, you go into a cool down, with a nice slowed down routine (after taking an exertion check). A note about one of the steps in the cooldown: Charlene has you doing a side touch onto the step and cha cha cha on the floor combo then cues late when she tells you to put the foot doing the side touch over the step. Meanwhile, the camera is focused on Jeanette's head, which really helps - NOT! After the first couple of times you'll pick it up, but I found it disconcerting at first. Also with this move, if you're short (like me), Charlene tells you not to put your foot over the step - I found myself doing this anyway, so it wasn't a big deal.

Then she does some stretches, holding them for longer than a few seconds, which really feels good. She does them on the step (sort of) but she tells you you can take it to the floor if it's uncomfortable.

The only other thing that bugged me (and it may only be me) was how Charlene sometimes says "reverse basic" instead of "left basic" or "right basic." At 5:00 in the morning, I can't always remember which foot I started with, so saying "reverse" doesn't mean much. ;-) Not a biggie, but it messes me up sometimes.

All in all, I give this tape an A-.

Instructor Comments:
I worked out in the 1980's with Charlene's show, It Figures (not available in the U.S. anymore), and I always found her to be very likeable and down to earth. She's chatty in this tape, but she's focused on the cuing, not on the latest fitness news. She cues pretty well throughout, with just a few glitches. Quite an inspiration, proving that you can be fit in your 50's (and beyond!).

NanB

09/19/2002