The only negative thing I can say about this video is that it's going to make my review sound as if it was written by a woman who dipped a little too often into the Prozac jar. This is the best hi/lo workout I have ever done, bar none. I flat out love it.

Of course, HLH may not be for everyone -- you've got to be comfortable with choreography to enjoy the workout. If Tae Bo is as tricky as you ever get, this video may not be your cup of soy milk. But if you like to sway, pivot and spin while you sweat and if you love a good "ball change" from time to time, or if you've ever found yourself mamboing in an empty elevator, than this is the workout for you.. Bonus: Tune up those vocal chords, because Christi's music and choreography will have you singing and humming along in between gasps for air.

The intensity level is advanced, but never killer. Similar to Happy Hour, but some segments are more intense than Happy Hour. If you stay with the easier options, it's at the low end of the advanced scale and it could easily be taken down even lower by dropping your arms, etc. Stage 1 is complex choreography on the level of Happy Hour; stage 2 is a little more complex and goes by very fast; stage 3 is moderate complexity but the intensity stays up there, since you alternate simple intense hi/lo patterns with squats and lunges and other strength moves. All three stages are fast-paced.

Here's what I really liked:

The Format -- lots of ways to combine the three stages. Stage 1 is 25 minutes, Stage 2 is 25 minutes and Stage 3 is 20 minutes. Do just one or two or do them all.

The Music -- great soundtrack with lots of vocals. "Sugar Sugar," "I Love You, Baaaaaby," "I Believe I Can Fly," and more. The choreography and the music go together perfectly. The first time I tried the video, my brain started to get tired, but the music kicked in, my feet followed and I soared through to the end.

Christi -- she is more relaxed, yet high energy, than ever before. You can tell she loves her job. Her cueing is non-stop. She does her trademark, "watch me" the first time through, then she cues you through it with her on the next try. Once you've learned it, you could close your eyes and never miss a beat, her cueing is THAT good.

The Background Guys -- those four guys really can fly. Personality galore. Mike's smile, Harold's hip-hip, George's bob and weave, Preston's enthusiasm. You've gotta love these guys. I sure do!

The Combos -- My favorite combo is in stage 2 -- a turning hamstring, heel, hamstring, hip hip move called "ham and eggs," a box step, an alternating knee-up turn that winds back and then up and then jumps into a plyo squat, then 3 alternating cross steps in front, hamstring 360 turn, then cross step behind. Even the stage 3 combos are fun. Simple patterns, but they are still full of pivots and turns. For some reason, my biggest fumble with the choreography is during the stage 3 intervals, but today's attempt was my 3rd try and I NAILED that sucker!

Things I didn't like -- I have to dig down very deep. Some people may find the stretching insets distracting if they're continuing on with the hi/lo workout, but they didn't bother me. The music during the opening credits sounded a little like the circus to me -- but I loved the very same music when it is used later during the workout itself. That's about all I can find to pick on. But I'm happy to keep doing the workout over and over so that I can find SOMEthing to criticize.

If you like Christi Taylor, you will love this video. If you like choreography, you will love this video. If you like music, you will love this video. If you can do a grapevine, followed by 4 alternating knee-ups while you spin around, you can do this video. It might take some practice, but you'll love doing it.

Full disclosure: I love Christi's videos, I love Christi herself and she named a plyo move after me in the video. So I'm not exactly an unbiased source. Doesn't matter, I'd be crazy about the video even if someone had told me that Christi was a serial murderer group fitness instructor and she'd named an axe after me. It's that good.

Daphne M