This workout is labelled "for beginners", but is appropriate for more experienced exercisers looking for a lighter workout. That describes me.
The workout begins with a five minute warm up, done mostly off the step. Kari does not move around the step as she does in warm ups from Body Tech, United Steps, and Hot Steps. This warm up is more stationary. There are a few dynamic stretches.
The actual workout is divided into two sections, with two combos being taught in each section. The second segment is a little more vigorous than the second.
The moves are more basic than the standard Kari fare, as is to be expected. She begins the workout with kicks on the corner of the step. This made me happy. For some reason, I love to do kicks at the corner of the step. Kari also has you skipping around the step in this combination. I do triples instead.The second combination has you straddling the step and going into a stomp along the step. Both combinations are fun. They are more basic, but not incredibly so. The DVD is chaptered so that you can end the workout at this point and go to the cooldown. (This shorter workout might be a menu option also.)
The second segment includes combinations that are a little more complex and a little more vigorous. For instance, instead of having you do a stomp along the step, she has you do an open turn step into a shuffle. Also, instead of simply straddling the step, she has you do an around the world. The first combination has you doing squat/leg abductions of the side of the step. I substituted shuffle repeaters and this worked just fine.
There is a short, fun cool down and then it is on to a stretch. The entire thing clocks in at bout 40 minutes.
I found the workout fun. Moves are not taught endlessly, but I can imagine that those with impatience for teaching would not be pleased with the workout. For some reason, I never get bored with Kari's teaching. I am less patient with other instructors. I have done this with a 6" and 8" step. Even with an 8" step it was not incredibly intense. Intensity junkies would do better with another workout.
The set is a little different for Kari. The floor is a large grid pattern and there is a large grid in the background. All the exercisers are wearing blue. The set is mainly blue too. I prefer cooler colors for a set so this was fine with me, although a few more colors would have been nice. The instrumental music has a good driving beat. the second section had a technoish song with a mideastern sound to it. I liked it a lot. Not your usual video workout fare! There were a few songs that can be heard on Cathe's Body Fusion and I also recognized one song from the warm up in Sleek Physique.
The picture quality could have been clearer. Also, I wish Kari's voice was not so loud on the soundtrack.

Instructor Comments:

Roz