Interval workouts

[dogonyx]

I have a few interval workout questions I was hoping that you Cathe-ites could answer. (Please forgive me if my descriptions aren't the best.)

1) In Cathe's Interval Max, is interval #6 the easiest by far? It's where you kind of leap side to side, like a bunny hop. I think maybe I'm finding it easy because I don't squat enough. I try to squat but the move seems so fast, I don't think I'm finding the time. Any tips on how to get a good squat in?

2) In Gin Miller's interval tape (Intense Moves??), is it possible to do that move where you do a kind of jumping jack but criss cross your legs in the air? I'm thinking Gin must have wires attached to her. I can do the rest at the highest level, including jumping all the way over a 10 inch Reebok step, but I can't even come close to doing one jack-criss-cross maneuver when I'm rested.

3) In Cathe's video, I don't remember which interval, when you're jumping side to side with your legs together, should you try to keep your torso in one place and pivot your legs underneath or do you jump with your whole body? I think the moves would look pretty similar but I'll bet they work different muscles.

4) Any tips on how to stay coordinated in Cathe's #9 interval? It's kind of like an up-and-back maybe????? I think that will come with practice but I'll take any help I can get. (I do think Cathe does a great job building up to it, but I'm not very coordinated and don't have much of a floor aerobic background.)

I will greatly appreciate any advice you give. I love those tapes and want to be sure I'm using them fully.

Thanks!!!
Shelley

 

[Aquajock]

Hi, Dogonyx / Shelly! In order of questions:

1. It took me awhile too to find the challenge in Interval #6, and like you it was because I wasn't going deep enough into a semi-squat to really recruit the thighs. Suggestion: for the next couple of I-max workouts, take down the range of motion somewhat in the arms, and focus more on the legs, trying to go deeper into each leg with each leap but remembering to really land with the weight through the whole foot, rather than staying on the balls of the feet;

2. Like you, I've never managed to do that criss-cross in Gin Miller's I-Moves; I guess I've always just blown it off. If you're doing everything else to max intensity, don't worry about it;

3. In the side-to-side two-legged jumps, you definitely do NOT want to try to keep your trunk in one place and only move the legs. That will, IMHO, put an extraodinary burden on the knees and hip joint. Let the trunk go naturally, but remember to keep the abs braced;

4. Re Interval #9 - the landing leg works the leg in one way, and the hitch-kicking / hamstring-curling leg is working another way. Maybe for the next couple of workouts, focus more on what's happening with the landing leg, and the next couple of workouts focus on what's happening with the curling leg. Then try to put it all together.

I-Max is certainly worth the effort and concentration you're putting into it. Good luck!

Annette

 

[dogonyx]

Thanks for the response, especially the third answer about side-to-side jumps. I was leaning towards doing them trying to keep my torso in one place because I figured that would be good work on my sides. I see what you mean by additional stress on the hips and knees so I will heed your advice! Thanks again! You may have saved me from future pain!

Shelley

 

[Aquajock]

RE: Don't thank me yet . . .

Hi, Shelley!

I may have saved you from future pain to the hip and knee joints, but just wait'll you find the "fire in the thighs" with the intervals you're devoting more attention to! I'm surprised I haven't burned my family room down doing that workout yet!

Annette

 

[Stepqueen]

RE: Don't thank me yet . . .

Ha! Annette, that is so funny!! Yeah, there certainly is "a whole lotta burnin' goin on" while doing IMax!!! We should all check to make sure our smoke detectors are working before attempting that tape!! LOL!!!