for Two: Step Aerobic Workout for Pregnancy, Lisa Stone for Two: Step Aerobic Workout for Pregnancy

OK Mom, now don't get too excited--this review should not be taken as an indication of your first grandchild's impending arrival! Actually, Lisa Stone was kind enough to send me a demo copy of her video so that I could include a review. A few personal disclaimers:

• I am not and have never been pregnant, so bear that in mind
• I am not intimately familiar with what moves/choreography is considered safe for pregnant women, though I am familiar with the most recent ACOG (American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology) guidelines for exercise in pregnancy.

Lisa Stone, an ACE-certified pre- & post-natal fitness specialist, has designed this video for active women who wish to continue stepping through their pregnancies. Unlike most pregnancy videos, which seem to be geared toward the beginner level, "Fit for 2" is best suited to experienced steppers. I would call it an intermediate-level video.

All of Lisa's class members are pregnant, and one woman does the entire workout without a step. The tape begins by going through the new ACOG guidelines for exercise and pregnancy, including conditions for which exercise is contraindicated. The workout includes a strength training segment-- a short abdominal workout (done on hands and knees), kegel exercises, upper back and pectoral work using rubber tubing, and some lower body work. The tape ends with a question and answer session with a doctor.

Lisa is a pleasant and energetic instructor with a soft Southern accent. She has chosen her music well-it's very upbeat, and I recognized a few of the songs from Cathe Friedrich's "Mega Step Blast." Lisa's choreography isn't too complex, yet it takes you all around the step in a number of different directions, which helps keep the low-impact moves from getting too boring. This will be especially important for those women who (pre-pregnancy) used to do complex step routines with a gazillion power moves. I consider the multi-directional movement a big plus, and had no trouble with all the directional changes, but women who have little experience with step aerobics should be advised to be careful until they've gotten the hang of the combos.

Lisa's choreography is more athletic than dancy. Although some of her transitions may not be quite as polished as Karen Voight's or Kathy Smith's, the steps are easy to follow. There was one step that I think some shorter pregnant women may find difficult--a low-impact step, tap, "over the top" move across the length of the step. Women who have trouble with this one could always do it on the floor behind the step, though.

I'm glad that someone finally made a pregnancy step video for those who would be bored with Kathy Smith's or the ever-annoying Denise Austin's tapes. I personally wished the aerobic section was a bit longer--I think it's in the 20-25 min. range--but pregnancy videos typically have short aerobic segments. Then again, I suppose 20-25 min. is a lot when you're exercising for two!

I know that when I'm pregnant (one of these years), I'll miss the excitement of power-packed step routines like Cathe Friedrich's, but this video gives me hope that the fitness video industry is starting to respond to the needs of fit pregnant women. "Fit for 2"'s strength section in particular is helpful to learn ways to modify your normal strength routine and how to target muscles that bear increased stress due to the physiological changes of pregnancy. I think it would be a good choice for an active women who doesn't want to be bored to tears by lots of "basic step, facing the TV".

WWWendy