Height used in Cathe's Step Workouts

[nbergren]

Hi all-

I am just wondering... I amin good shape and I have been exercising for 10+ years including a wide variety of activities. I have always done step tapes. In the past 2 years I was introduced to Cathe and love her tapes. My question is this... when I do Cathe's tapes I can work up a good sweat and really give all the power moves my all using only the board. I can add 1 riser but find I struggle more to include all the power moves. When using my other step tapes I always use at least 2 risers if not 3, no problem.

I know Cathe's intensity is much higher than Kathy Smith, Gin Miller, and Keli Roberts so I understand why I can go higher with them. My question is this... should I really be pushing myself to go higher with Cathe's tape or stay with the board and focus on pushing out all the power moves?

Does anyone else just use the board for Cathe tapes?

Thanks for your input.

Nancy

 

[FoolofaTook]

Hi Nancy,
Part of the problem might be that Cathe's stuff is typically set to a much brisker tempo than the others you mentioned. She's slowed things down just a bit lately but videos like Step Fit and Body Max are just so darned fast! It was extremely frustrating to me at first, thought I'd never get used to it but eventually I did.

I do lower my step one notch for Step Fit because I'd be kickin' the thing out from under myself otherwise. Pretty much everything else I manage to do on my regular height but there are some days when I choose one of her slower tempo workouts when my energy level is feeling a bit blah.

You know, if you're getting a good workout ~ breathing and sweating and feeling tired by the end ~ that's what really matters. The only concern I have about using just the platform is that it's more likely to move around all of a sudden, especially if you're on carpet. Unless your knees cry out for mercy, you might want to try the six inch on some of Cathe's more moderate tempo workouts till you start getting used to the speed. Hey, just a suggestion, take it or leave it ;D.

Oh, one more thing, the Reebok step (Gin's step) is just a wee bit shorter and smaller than the Step Co. step (what Cathe always uses). If you have an opportunity to give it a spin, it might just feel better to you. Reebok steps also feel more stable to me. I have one of each and use them both for different things. Still debating about getting a Bollinger Super Step, hmmmm.....