On cardio work, I am an intermediate exerciser who is learning to love advanced choreography. My general routine in learning complex choreography is to do a workout I know and then pop in the new workout and go as far as I can. When I get frustrated, I quit and do it again another day. I keep going and adding time on the workout until I “get” the entire workout.

On this step workout, I pretty much went through the entire workout the first time with some modifications and got the more complex choreography in the next time or two. Consequently, I would rank the choreography as intermediate, edging to low advanced at times. The intensity for me is high as I get a good workout with this DVD. It lasts 55 minutes total and I enjoy having a long workout for cardio as an option in my arsenal.

The DVD of this workout has shorter options, combining the first two combinations and then the second two combinations in shorter workout menu options. Each option has the warm up and cool down with it I have never done one of the shorter options because I do this workout when I want a long workout, but it’s nice having those options.

Kari seems to be her typical self in this workout in most ways. She cues well throughout the workout. For most sections, she demonstrates new choreography and then invites everyone to accompany her. After the demonstration she does describe what she is doing and gives form pointers. She does give and demonstrate modification examples at points throughout the workout, but none of the background exercisers shows those modifications.

The TIFTing isn’t too bad. She teaches the first two combinations and then TIFTs them. She then teaches the third and fourth combinations and TIFTs them. She then runs through the entire workout three times at the end. She does build each combination on both sides. The second side is usually a shorter process than the first. For those of you who know it on both sides after it’s first taught, this would not be a good thing. For those of us who don’t necessarily “get it” on one side after learning the other, this is a good thing. It does lengthen the teaching process, which some may not enjoy once they get the workout and know it.

The basic pattern of each of the four combinations is that she teaches the basic step pattern. At the end, she then generally throws in a direction change or more complexity to transform the combination into a more intricate combination than it seemed it was going to be.

She leads a class of background exercisers and does interact with them some. The first few times I did the workout, I found myself trying to figure out what workouts I had seen some of them in before. The instrumental music was fine, but fairly unremarkable. I found I enjoyed the music in Body Tech and Danceworks a lot more.

She doesn’t do much with options for impact. I was really surprised in the last combination because she does scissors on between the step and floor and gives no modifications for lower impact. After the first time or two, I figured out a modification that works fine for me, but I felt that was something that should have been provided. There may be other moves where the impact doesn’t bother me, but could be problematic for those with a high sensitivity to impact. After Body Tech, I was surprised and disappointed that she didn’t provide guidance or options for lower-impact moves. Overall, I don’t think the impact is too bad in the workout, but that one move was too much for me.

Overall, I really like this workout. For those who don’t like anything that is less than complex choreography, I don’t think you will enjoy this workout. For those who describe themselves as “cardio klutzes” and don’t like much choreography at all, this isn’t the workout for you. For those between the two ends of the spectrum, you may want to consider this workout.

I enjoy this workout and really like having a step tape where the cardio lasts for more than 45 minutes. Plus, Kari makes me believe that I am coordinated and capable of complex choreography. She seems to be the instructor I come back to after expanding my horizons with other instructors and forms of exercise.

Instructor Comments:
Kari Anderson is her normal self - supportive, warm, humorous. She makes me believe I can do complex things and then teaches me so I can.

Laura S.