If you like high intensity, very dancy step aerobics with complex choreography, a variety of great music and exceptional cueing, this is your "Step Heaven." The complexity shouldn't scare anyone off though, less complex variations are shown by background exercisers. This is a great tape to grow with.

Experience has taught me to preview Christi tapes 2 times through, studying foot patterns and directional changes. I'm a little "slow" and don't like to be left in the dust. It really paid off, I kept up (more or less) the first time through with no rewinding!

Stage 1: This comes after warm up and stretch. It's by no means basic choreography (except compared to Stage 2), but again, variations are shown and it very well taught. While complexity lovers will enjoy this segment on it's own, it will also prepare you for what's to come. My favorite move here is a kick around the world with an outside turn on 2 and 4.

Stage 2: Hold onto your hats! Impossible to name a favorite move here. One great move follows another with not a one awkward transition. In fact it flows so well, that a few times I found myself ignoring the cues, just watching and doing. It's that good. I will warn that there are a lot of twists and turns. If you skip the preview and make it through this section without twisting an ankle or landing on you butt, you are indeed an aerobic animal.

By now, you've had a complete aerobic workout and if you want to stop here (or at the end of Stage 1) you can follow Christi and gang through a cool down and stretch on the lower left hand corner of your screen. Pretty cool!

Stage 3: This stage moves quickly and offers a lot of variety. Short aerobic segments (each one new and fresh) are alternated with weight training intervals or circuits (4-I think). You have the option of staying aerobic, exercisers in the background demonstrate a basic holding pattern. If you're tired, this might be sufficient, but it occurred to me that on a high energy day, you may want to put traditional aerobic interval work here: a series of lunges, jacks, jump rope, or whatever you like. I did the weights with Christi. I tend to have a little trouble with form on compound exercises, but I used 8 lb. weights and did fine. Not a strength day, but a little extra!

I really zoned through the cool down and stretch, so I don't remember much of it, but it certainly did the job.

I really love this workout! It my new favorite!!

Instructor Comments:
Christi is an excellent instructor. Her cueing is dead on and she's very serious....about having fun that is! I would gladly preorder now anything she plans to make in the future. Christi, you've outdone yourself with this one!

Anne