Step Aerobics

Gilad Janklowicz
Year Released: 1992

Categories: Step Aerobics



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This is a great workout. I can't add a lot to what has already been said but will give my thoughts nonetheless. This workout provides intensity without complexity. The step routine consists of 4 segments. There are 3 combos that build in intensity. The final segment is all combos together. This workout is a bit repetitive within each combo so if you dislike repetition it is not for you. It isn't easy or boring however. I would categorize this as deceptively tough. It is well-chaptered, so you can do as little or as much as you want. The workout concludes with an ab segment which is mostly crunches. I like doing abs after my cardio so I enjoy this.
The scenery is gorgeous. I especially enjoy it as I have frequented the beach on which it was filmed. I love outdoor workouts. I don't mind the dated appearance.

Instructor Comments:
Gilad is easy to look at and easy to follow. He is fun and positive.

Melissa P

03/02/2012

Looking for a basic step tape that still gives you the intensity you want? This could be your workout. This tape has been around since 1992, but Gilad's straightforward style makes it timeless. Moderate tempo, no fancy music, no fancy footwork, no-frills camera work, and excellent cuing allow you to follow easily along with Gilad and his group of exercise partners in a pleasant outdoor setting.

In three increasingly intense combos, Gilad changes the steps frequently enough to keep you from getting bored. He puts all three sections together at the end, and repeats the total combo several times. By then, you should really be pumping.

I'm an experienced stepper, with good cardio capacity. After previewing this tape, I decided to start with an 8-inch step because it looked so basic. Well...I was up to 75% of capacity in no time. And by the third combo, I was pushing 90%. Next time, I'll probably drop back to 6 inches, at least on the third section and combo finale. I like using arm motions and power moves, so the best way to keep my heart rate under control would be to lower the step. You can adjust your own workout accordingly. Also, it would be easy to rewind and repeat any section to create a longer workout if you wish.

After the step workout, Gilad does a short cooldown and stretch, followed by a 6-minute ab routine that's just right. Finally, there's a thorough stretch. This is 60 minutes well spent.

Instructor Comments:
Some days, I know I'll still want Cathe or Kari or Christi, to get that feeling of whirling and twirling around the step. But now, with Gilad, I have a fine alternative for days when I just want to step and sweat. He's got a nice voice, a pleasantly encouraging style, and a cute parrot.

Barbara Loots

11/17/2000

I'm glad that I bought this. I needed a low impact step routine while nursing a foot injury last summer. This video fit the bill. It offers an upper intermediate/advanced level intensity - keep in mind, I use 8" risers - but it isn't stressful on the knees or feet.

For all its simplicity, this workout is aerobically challenging. I'm an advanced exerciser and I love the workout I get without the impact on my joints. The problem with this video is that it can get really boring. The moves are so brain-numbingly simple that I tend to feel like a human metronome while doing it for more than 20 minutes. But I can't bring myself to trade this video because it's ridiculously hard to find decent, low impact cardio tapes that push me into my training zone. My way around the boredom problem is this: I just do the last couple step sections of this tape as a tack-on to my shorter aerobic tapes. It works for me.

So this tape is NOT recommended for the step doyennes out there. If you want to RiverDance your way through step, this isn't the one to pick. Try this video if you're a beginning stepper with an advanced level of fitness …… if you have joint problems ... or if you're an experienced stepper who is desperate for an occasional lower impact workout and doesn't mind zoning out while doing simple step choreography. It also works if you want to tack on a relatively lower impact step video to another cardio workout -- say, just 10 to 20 minutes of stepping.

Other bonuses? Gilad is handsome, the steel guitar soundtrack is lively, and the Hawaian beach setting is just the ticket for dreary days.

Michelle Easton

10/26/2000

This is an older tape, made in 1992, but it has stood the test of time. I was very surprised to find no reviews of this tape in the VF Reviews Section. Unlike many of Gilad's tapes, this one was never sold in retail stores and it had a $29.95 price tag in the Collage catalog limiting it's appeal. Fortunately, it has now dropped to a more reasonable $19.95.

The tape has all the trademarks of a Gilad tape: a gorgeous Hawaiian beach setting, a diverse cast fanned out behind a charismatic instructor, and simple straightforward choreography that still manages to keep your interest. Gilad has found an approach that works and he sticks to it. His steps are always basic and his settings are natural so his tapes don't have the dated look that they might otherwise have.

The aerobic portion of the tape (which is the bulk of it) is 40 minutes long and divided into four 10 minutes sections. In the beginning the moves are very basic and the intensity is low. Gilad does each move eight times to each side, then four, then two. He adds in the arms as he goes along. After he teaches a sequence, he goes onto the next and then combines them before closing that section of the workout.

The intensity remains low until the third section when he introduces crossovers and then propulsion moves. Once they are introduced, the intensity really turns up a notch and the tape is no longer just a beginning step tape. I'm a high intermediate and I found this section quite challenging. Gilad never repeats a move too many times, he always seems to know when it's time to learn something new. At the end of this sequence he introduces a series of jumping jack moves on the floor in addition to the step propulsions, and my heartrate always climbs right up there. In the fourth and final section, he takes it from the very top and you do each of the moves over again in sequence three times, making the tape a very solid intermediate workout. The moves are demonstrated on a smaller step surface so you don't have to have a full size step to do this workout.

It's an excellent tape to use to learn propulsion moves because they are taught sequentially with no distracting choreography. It's also easily modified to low impact because the propulsion moves contain no directional changes. This makes the tape very versatile. Beginners can do the first two sections, intermediates the whole tape without propulsions, and high intermediates can do it as demonstrated. Advanced exercisers who dislike dancy choreography would also enjoy it.

After a quick cooldown, the tape has a short abdominal workout and stretch which, if not exactly memorable, gets the job done. I rate this tape A for beginners and A+ for intermediates.

Instructor Comments:
Gilad has a lot of charm and enthusiasm as well as a natural sex appeal which is never forced. I also like the fact that he presents the cast members at the end and lets us know their names. This is the only video I've ever seen that includes an older male exerciser in the cast.

Jane P

11/19/1999

This workout is long (45 minutes of stepping) with basic/intermediate choreography, but with intermediate/advanced intensity. It starts off a little on the beginner side, but in a little while, you're heart rate is right up there. It's 45 minutes of non-stop cardio -- no ups and downs to learn new moves. I guess that's the advantage of keeping the choreography basic.

I find myself watching the beautiful scenery a lot, because I don't need to concentrate on the moves. It's shot at Waikiki Beach, and it's simply beautiful. The bad part is that it makes me want to get the credit card out and book a flight!

The music is really interesting, too. I have no idea what the style is called, but I like it.

All in all, I really enjoy this tape. It's not one I'll do real often because I like a little more complexity, but it's perfect for brain-dead days when you can still handle some intensity. Grade A.

Instructor Comments:
Gorgeous and charming as usual!

Annie S.

03/06/1999

The warm up and cool down are typical Gilad - thorough. Warm up is about 7 minutes and cool down is about the same. I always continue to stretch on my own after most cool downs - I need to stretch to maintain my flexibility.

I really like this video. I am not a dancy person - feet are willing but coordination is weak. The video is in three sections with the fourth section combining all the moves from the other three. It's sort of easy and it's not hard - just a steadily moving low to medium impact of about 40 minutes duration. The music is interesting as well. The first piece sounds almost Israeli (chosen by Gilad no doubt), the second more Islandy, etc. The moves are not difficult and it seems to go by quickly.

As always, you might want to add this to your collection for variety if you are beginner to intermediate. Advanced can "adjust" the kicks and stradles to make it more difficult.

To be honest, I am a dedicated Gilad fan and it would be hard for me to give even a mediocre video (if he ever made one) a bad review.

Instructor Comments:
Gilad's energy and personality make his videos interesting and fun and this one is no exception. His cueing is pretty good except I think this is the video where his left is right, etc. I think I'll not comment further - what I really want to say about the instructor may be misconstrued as my being a "female piglet"! I saw him in person last year at a fitness fair and his personality is just perfect for the industry he has chosen.

DONNA NIHILL

08/28/1998