I’m reviewing this workout after doing it once in its entirety.

General workout breakdown: This 48.5-min. step aerobics workout contains 42 min. of step cardio with a 6.5-min. cool-down and stretch. There is a bonus 4.5-min. additional warm-up as well as a just over 15-min. bonus cardio, which TIFTs all combos together 3x (for an extra 9 min. of cardio) plus adds in the cool-down and stretch. If you do the bonus warm-up, the full routine and then the bonus cardio portion, and stay for the cool-down and stretch you’ll put in 62 min. total.

Christi combines standard step aerobics moves with a bit of a dancey flair. You’ll start with basics, repeaters, hamstring curls, knee lifts, kicks, shuffles, v-steps, mambos, squats, lunges, hamstring curls, and other moves which get jazzed up as the routine progresses.

Christi always begins with basic steps but quickly layers them, either transforming the moves, changing the order and/or rhythm, or cutting down the number of repetitions. Her style of instruction is to begin with a few counts of basic moves, then layer it up, run through the new variations of the moves a few times, then put them together to take it from the top. She’ll then add on another set of base moves, repeat, and then run through all of the parts of that. She often uses the “watch me” method, although here she and her two “flippers” will launch right into the final variation with just a warning that a move change is coming up. I appreciate that Christi only changes one thing at a time and almost always gives you at least one chance to see and then do it on each side before adding any other changes.
Christi teaches things symmetrically, and she balances out break downs on both sides, more or less. Christi never weaves, or slices and dices, combos; she’ll always do combo #1 on the right, combo #1 on the left, combo #2 on the right, and then combo #2 on the left (or whatever side she does first), and so on.

The bonus abs (6.5 min.) is taught by Christi via voiceover while Julie demonstrates basic crunches, twisting crunches, crunches w/ leg lift, twisting crunch w/ leg lift, back extension with arm movements, and crunches with legs straight in the air. This bonus is also found on Totally Cool Step.

Level: I’d recommend this to experienced exercisers at the intermediate through low advanced level who are comfortable with complex choreography. Those looking for a less complex / strenuous / torque-y workout can stay with the modifiers, and I highly recommend those new to Christi and/or more complex workouts follow them at least the first time through.
I consider myself an intermediate / advanced in cardio, although I’m more of an intermediate plus when it comes to step, since I’m still working my way through more complex step aerobics workouts. I pick choreography up pretty quickly if it’s broken down and cued well, which is true here. I felt very confident with the full choreography after just one run through (again, know I think I’m better than average at picking up – although probably not exactly executing – choreography), although I could stand to polish both halves, especially the accompanying arms. Yes, I tried to do the full shebang the first time through, but I’ve been working somewhat systematically through my complex step workouts and now through my Christis. Anyway, this gave me a solid steady state workout that had me in my moderately high zone. After recently doing other Christi step workouts (Solid Gold Step last week, Stepsational with a pair of risers the week before, Cardio Collectibles and CIA 7004 the weeks before that) I do agree that this isn’t as intense (or even as complex) as some of the others, but I don’t mind all that much because it’s fun.

Class: 6 women join Christi. The four in the back row, wearing all black, stick with the lower impact / less pivot-heavy version of the routine, while Christi, Julie, and Tammy show the full shebang.

Set: the 2002 CIA set with red sponged walls, blue beams, brightly colored geometric art, and various seating arrangements along the back and side. It’s a lot of color!

Production: clear picture and sound, with both Christi’s voice and the great soundtrack clearly audible without drowning each other out. The camera angles aren’t particularly flashy and as a result are helpful. There is one brief moment at the beginning of the second half where suddenly the camera cuts to almost an overhead shot as Christi’s cues continue via voiceover, but that’s about it for oddities.

Equipment: Christi and crew use a full-sized club step with one set of risers, which is what I used (and what I normally use). You’ll want sneakers that won’t get caught in your step and/or carpet (if relevant).

Space Requirements: You’ll need some horizontal space for this. You should be able to kick to the front and each side plus have room to move side to side behind the step. You don’t need that deep of a space, however.

DVD Notes: You can skip the opening intro to get to the main menu, with its options of Instructor Training Program Promo, Bonus Abs, and Bonus Cardio on one side and Introduction, Start Workout, Bonus Warmup into Workout, MoveMaster, and Behind the Scenes. Don’t dally at the main menu too long, as the DVD launches right into the main workout after a minute or two. The workout itself is chaptered by combos.

Comments: Totally Hot Cardio was my first Christi, and I’m happy I finally felt ready to tackle its companion, Totally Cool Step. I got a little nervous about reading how difficult some people found it, but most of those reviews seem to have been from folks new to Christi at the time of their trial of this workout. As a Christi veteran I found it quite doable, both in terms of complexity and intensity. That said, there were a few parts that felt a little unfinished, as if Christi held back the final flourish, but that’s OK.
I have to add that I rather like the soundtrack of standards better than top 40 hits, as it gives the workout a more timeless appeal.

Instructor Comments:
Christi cues so well, almost always cuing each move each time through, even mentioning both the modified and full move where relevant, which may be confusing at first, but I got used to it pretty quickly. She does cue a little ahead of each move, so be aware of that if you’re used to instructors cuing just before or on the move change. And she mirror cues, although I wish she’d indicate turns or break down footfalls more often, at least the first time through. Christi’s singing of cues is part of her great ability to match moves to music - few instructors seem intuitively to be able to work so well with music, and here she’s designed the routine so well she rarely, if ever, stops to get back with her music - and part of the fun she exudes when both teaching and doing these routines.

KathAL79