I have just two words for this workout: Cardio Cocaine! I did it four days in a row after receiving it, and even with the new CIAs in hand (which aren't too shabby either) I have to force myself not to grab this tape and sneak in just a few Daphnes before my workout. It's worse than having a bag of M&M's sitting around!

Okay, I am biased, being a big Christi fan ever since 5004 and being one of the lucky ones to attend the taping of her Heaven videos. But I will come right out and say it: I think Hi-Lo Heaven is the best all-around exercise video made to date. It won't make your muscles throb like the PS series, or push you to the endurance edge like Intense Moves and Interval Max. And it isn't the best choice for beginners or those who prefer non-dancy workouts. But I haven't seen any other video (and I've probably seen close to 200) that scores so high in music, choreography, performance AND versatility. You can do just one segment if you only have half an hour, or the whole enchilada for a marathon 75-minute session. Stages 1 and 3 aren't too hard to pick up, while Stage 2 will challenge even the most seasoned dancers. Stage 3 lets you do intervals of cardio or strength, your choice. The customized soundtrack is loaded with baby-boomer hits of the '70s and '80s. The Heavenly Bodyguards are a REAL visual feast, and Christi herself just shines, twirling, kicking and leaping into cardio dance paradise. (As someone who is space-challenged, HLH takes up about as much room as Happy Hour and slightly less than 9801. I have to do some modifying, but even if I lived in a broom closet, it would not keep me away from Christi!)

Should this be your first Christi video? Maybe, but I would recommend prior experience with other dancy videos such as Kari Anderson's videos or CIAs. Hi-Lo Heaven has MUCH more of a learning curve than Cathe or Firm videos. Christi's other hi-lo video, Happy Hour, may be easier for first-timers to pick up on than HLH, since there are only three combos and Christi repeats them more. If the first part of HLH totally throws you, I would suggest fast-forwarding to Stage 3 which has shorter, more linear combos that will help you get used to Christi's unique style.

Grade A+++++, two thumbs up, five stars. I can't praise this video enough, so I might as well quit before I go do it again! There isn't a thing I would change about it. It's perfect.

Instructor Comments:
Christi is a top-notch instructor and gifted choreographer, but more importantly she has endlessly shown her love to VFers and her fans. She practices her faith rather than preaching, from little things like chatting with fans on her forum to big things like inviting VFers to parties and video shoots.

Sue B