Low Impact Challenge-Learning Curve?

[Pedmom]

First let me say that I have done Cathe's step workouts for many, many years. The only one I've ever had a teeny bit of trouble with was Low Max. I took a few times getting that 6-count mambo down but only had to rewind a few times the first time I did it and I got it.

So why the heck am I having so much trouble with LIC??? I did it for the second time as part of the Nov rotation. I quit after 27 minutes and got on my elliptical instead. Frustrated is an understatement. I don't know WHY I'm having such trouble with this workout. Like I have a mental block or something.

Am I alone? Is this extra-challenging, or am I just a slower learner now that I'm in my mid-40s?

[Amy Steppe]

Originally Posted by Pedmom

First let me say that I have done Cathe's step workouts for many, many years. The only one I've ever had a teeny bit of trouble with was Low Max. I took a few times getting that 6-count mambo down but only had to rewind a few times the first time I did it and I got it.

So why the heck am I having so much trouble with LIC??? I did it for the second time as part of the Nov rotation. I quit after 27 minutes and got on my elliptical instead. Frustrated is an understatement. I don't know WHY I'm having such trouble with this workout. Like I have a mental block or something.

Am I alone? Is this extra-challenging, or am I just a slower learner now that I'm in my mid-40s?

I don't think it has anything to do w/age. I think it is the way Cathe has done the choreography. I did fine until the final cardio section (not the bonus one) and then I was stumbling all over my feet. I have always been able to catch on to Cathe's choreography almost instantly but I am having more trouble with this one.

I know I will get it down but the workout does seem to have more of a learning curve than her other videos.

Did you notice that some of the moves she is doing go back to the original Step and Motion from 1989?

[CommittedtoFitness]

I too have had a lot of difficulty learning the choreography in Low Impact Challenge, more so than Low Max but not as much as Step Moves. I've almost got the combination of all 4 combos down after doing it on 6 separate days, with a lot of rewinding and repetition on the earliest days. It's fast and there are a lot of turning steps. I hope it's not just my age. Hang in there. You'll get it eventually. I think reinforcement from doing it often at first will be the key.

[myputer]

Give it time! It is complicated footwork. I did it several days in a row because I wanted to get it down. I finally did. I started with a 6 " step just so I wouldn't trip over my feet and now I'm back on 8". I' 59 so it has nothing to do with age. It really is just challenging footwork but that's what makes it interesting and fun, and boy do you feel accomplished when you get it.

[tralaiven]

I also had trouble with the choreography. you are not alone. I have just resolved that I will have to do the workout about 4 times before I am comfortable with it or even get it.

[JT]

THE only step workout I've had problems with, maybe due to fear of not getting it, was Dance Step.For LIC combo #2 messed me up a little, combo #4 is similiar to Low Max combo# 5 or 6 so I got that one right away. Her step workouts flow smoothly using each step combo to work with the next and not using transitional moves found in other workouts.

[Dela]

OK, so admittedly this is making me feel much better. I never do Step, but decided I wanted to follow Cathe's November STS/LIS rotation as close as possible, so I did this one , sort of. Combo 4 was kind of a joke for me and a I did a lot of just stepping up and down, and the combo of combos, wasn't even possible, so I skipped it and went to the cardio blast.

The positive, was I didn't totally give up like I have done in the past, and I think I am starting to see why people love Step so much, you have to think so hard about what you are doing, you kind of forget you are working out! And the addition of the step really does make it a great workout.

I did not even realize there was a bonus step routine, but that looks like something even I can get. I saw it today, I did STS disc 3 (legs) then the cardio blast after and stretch, then it goes right into the bonus routine, which did sort of scared me that I wasn't done yet but then read the back of the cover to see what that was.

[jad]

When I was starting with Cathe's step routines, someone suggested doing them the first couple of times just on the floor so you don't have to worry about where the step is and falling off. It certainly helps you to get the actual choreography down, and then it's pretty easy to transfer to the step.

Hope this helps.

[fitness buff]

This is definitely the most challenging step work of the series. Her moves are similar to other w/o which messed me up because I would find myself completing moves from other w/o. Eventually I stopped and listened to her wrods and was able to get the steps. I will admit her cueing is a little slow when she does all the combos together so I still mess up that part; comes too fast and its not committed to memory yet.

[Peaceful Rainbow]

Combos 1-3 I had down by the second time, but combo four just wasn't completely happening to me. The third time I did it, I focused on listening to her cues rather than watching her and then I was able to do it. I couldn't watch her and get my direction right. Next time you do it try to put your focus on her voice and see if that helps.