Cardio Revolution

On cardio work, I am an intermediate to advanced exerciser who enjoys with complex choreography at some level. I also enjoy my “easier” workouts on those mornings I don’t feel like thinking that much. After trying many different cardio workouts with varying complexity, I have found that I enjoy many different workouts, but my absolute favorites are those that many complexity lovers on VF would classify as intermediate because the instructor takes awhile to build combinations and/or explains more than the most complex instructors (like Christi, Patrick, or Andre). On the complexity scale, I find that Marcos Prolo falls between intermediate instructors and the most advanced. He builds the moves fairly slowly, but then puts them together and I find myself spinning, turning and moving side to side. I’m not sure how I got there sometimes, but I am having such a good time, I don’t care. He does not, however, build the second side slowly, assuming you can repeat it on the other side.

In this workout, Marcos is by himself in front of a marbled backdrop. I agree with Annie that it’s rather ugly, but once he gets going, I don’t notice. He is by himself in this workout, and I did wish for another person or two in the picture. He did not, however, need them as he sucked me into the workout by himself. He gives alternatives for impact and complexity, stressing that all turns are optional. However, some impact I found hard to avoid and some turns were easier to do than to leave out. I have arthritis with my feet being not real happy these days and the impact was fine for me. I would not classify this workout as high impact; rather, there is simply some impact that occurs as you chachacha across the floor or as you leap to the side. Other than those few times, it was low impact. The music was good and I really enjoyed it. It’s all instrumental, but motivating arrangements of pop songs. I know I have heard several of them before in other workouts, but was too busy with the workout to figure it out. You need a fair amount of room side to side, but not as much front to back.

Overall, the workout just flows for me. He describes what he wants me to do and I do it. Once in awhile, he previews a move while I’m doing what he has already taught. The warm up is 6.5 minutes and the cool down occurs at the 30-minute mark. That leaves around 24 minutes of cardio. I have to admit that I got to the cool down and said, “That’s it?” for two reasons. First, I didn’t realize how short this workout was and was having such a good time that I wasn’t prepared for it to end. Second, he never puts all the moves together. There is not one TIFT in the workout. I wanted to do the whole thing at least once!

I will keep this workout because it was so much fun and because it will be great for days I want cardio, but am time crunched. I do wish it were longer though.

I traded for this workout, but I know it's available for purchase on newideafitness.com.

Instructor Comments:
He makes working out so much fun. In this workout, I feel like I'm in the room with him. We discuss whether I am with him and if I want to do a combination again. He has a special gift for teaching combinations in seeming pieces than all of the sudden putting them together and having you cover a lot of the room without much stress or thought.

Laura S.

Another winner from the all-too-seldom-heard-from Marcos. He really needs to put out more workouts – he’s right up there with Christi Taylor and Marcus Irwin in terms of choreography, teaching ability, and fun factor. This is a short high/low workout. It’s 32 minutes including the warmup and cooldown. I really expected it to be a little longer (the cover says 40 minutes), but I like it just fine the way it is. He teaches 3 combos starting off with easier choreography that turns out to be complex when it’s finished. It’s very easy to pick up because he teaches it so well. The set is on the ugly side – a dark blue backdrop that looks like some velvety-type material. The workout is so enjoyable, though, that I don’t even notice the set once he gets started. Grade A!

Instructor Comments:

Annie S.