Still Jumpin'

Christi Taylor
Year Released: 2001

Categories: Floor Aerobics/Hi-Lo/Dance


Once again, Christi has come up with the kind of tape I wish Donna Richardson had made as a sequel to Donna-Mite. Most of the music on this one is from the 60s, 70s, and early 80s--you'll hear "Wooly Bully," "Then Came You" (made popular by the Spinners and Dionne Warwicke in her pre-Psychic Friends era), "Turn the Beat Around," "Enough is Enough (I Can't Go On), "Still the One", and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything," among others. The first time I did this, it was as if time stood still and I was once again in my early 20s partying at the disco. Oh, what fun!!

As is this workout. Christi put as much thought and care into making the warm-up and cool-down as she did the aerobic body of the workout. I just love those shuffle-and-pivot things in the cool-down--very similar to what Franny did in "Cardio Parties." What a blast!

I really appreciate that Christi breaks the cardio into two sections and includes the picture-in-picture cool-down at the beginning of the second cardio section. The first time I did this routine, it was mid-summer 90+ Fahrenheit, and I needed to quit after 25 minutes. How nice not to have to stop and FF to find the cool-down. This workout is great for those kinds of days, as well as the ones where you're in a hurry and just can't do a full hour, or if you're the type of person who best learns Christi's style of cardio one section at a time. I'll be honest, though. I never can just do the first section and then cool down. I'd feel cheated of that great second section--and those fun steps in the full-picture cool-down!

I thought it was great that she includes SEVERAL gals that do the entire routine with some modifications like lower impact and no turns. You can stick with those as long as you need to and still get a good workout. And having several folks rather than just one to show those moves means that they're nearly always in camera range, making them easier to see and follow.

It's also great to see so many of our great VFers on the sidelines at the end and during the blooper section. When I'm done with this workout, it's only 6:00 or 6:15am most days--and yet I've already had a good dose of fun and fellowship.

There was only one quibble I had, and others might find it distracting too. Theresa Han (the lady in the black outfit to the left of the screen) is a wonderful exerciser--energetic, enthusiastic, and it's obvious she loves this workout. But there were times she appeared to be mugging strictly for the benefit of the camera, and a couple of times it distracted me from Christi. It made her little moment in the spotlight--where Christi says, "Theresa and Julie are going to show off now," and they do full American splits during the cooldown--seem redundant. (She does seem a little more like a background exerciser in the Totally Hot Cardio video just released, so I imagine someone told her to tone it down for this production.)

Nonetheless, this is the most frequently used floor tape in my rotation right now. It strikes just the right balance between challenge and fun--as do so many of Christi's projects. Keep 'em coming, Christi!

Grade: A

Instructor Comments:
She's one of the friendliest--if not THE friendlist--instructors in the business. What a woman. When I grow up I want to be just like her!!

Melissa C

04/19/2002