Please help! Step popularity discussion: Your opinion!

newswoman13

newswoman13

Cathlete
Hello ladies, I'm writing for your help! I'm a Cathe fan, a certified instructor, and a news journalist.

I'm interested in doing a story on step popularity. I think the misconception tends to be that step is outdated (please, do not scoff, I know you all love it!). However, I regularly take a class that overflows with participants; sometimes people sneak their own steps into the gym (i know, i know, I don't know how they "sneak" them in the door...).

But, ask someone on the street who's not a gym-goer or class-taker, and they think step means leg warmers and Jane Fonda. Or, even those who ARE gym-goers might not be aware of the fitness and fun benefits of step.

What do you all think? Do you know of classes where just thinking of lining up for class 30 minutes early causes heart palpitations? I break a sweat just trying to get my "spot" in my fave class! So, you might like it, but what about the general public? Do they realize the popularity? I've heard it's huge in NYC, and I'm located in Atlanta where it's crazy fun. Any other ideas?

Also, have you heard of Balletone? What do you think about it? Any other fave mind-body exercises or programs you think are the next trend OR are going un-noticed?

Lemme know!!!!!
 
I think that maybe people who don't have a clue think that its time has passed and has been replaced by cardio kickboxing/Tae Bo or spinning maybe. However, I don't believe Jane Fonda ever did a step workout (or published a video on it anyway). And people believe they can get the same results with Pilates and yoga.

It's hard for me to really gauge this since nobody I know really exercises. I have a runner in my office. I have another girlfriend that take African dance classes and one who walks alot for her job and takes yoga. I do have one friend that belongs to a gym, but I haven't ever asked her what kind of routine she does. I'll ask her and get back to you.

I don't really care myself what's considered "old school". I just do what's fun and I'll keep doing consistantly. And that, as any fitness minded person will tell you, is all that's important.
 
My BF thinks I'm a huge dork because I do step in my living room and have my own Reebok bench.

I quit going to the gym (Gold's) after discovering Cathe because they didn't offer step classes. I'm in Atlanta too - but OTP (outside the Perimeter, very unhip of me!) where gyms seem to offer step only on a limited basis in favor of yoga, pilates, body pump, and spinning classes.

For me personally, step is classic and will never go out of style, but I do think much of the general public views step classes as outdated. Bring it back!!!

BTW, where do you work out?

Joni
 
Hello!!

I'm a certified instructor as well, and I can attest that STEP is THE most popular class at my gym. And people do come early to ensure that they have a place in class. Personally, I think it's a fave for people who have discovered it because you are so busy concentrating on the routine that it doesn't feel like "exercise".

To all of those who think Step is "out of date", they obviously have never really been into it, in my opinion.

STEP is alive, ever-changing and here to stay!!!
:)

P.S. I live in Pennsylvania, if that helps.
 
Joni
You could easily join LA Fitness being OTP. They're everywhere! If you're interested in trying out a class at the Ansley LAF, let me know. I can direct you toward an awesome step class!

And, by the way, you're never a dork doing what you love. : )
 
Do you know of classes where just
>thinking of lining up for class 30 minutes early causes heart
>palpitations? I break a sweat just trying to get my "spot" in
>my fave class! So, you might like it, but what about the
>general public? Do they realize the popularity? I've heard
>it's huge in NYC, and I'm located in Atlanta where it's crazy
>fun. Any other ideas?


My step class has people waiting outside the door at least 15 minutes in advance. It's a varied group in age, shape, fitness level (although it is labeled "advanced") and ability. When the doors swign open people RACE to get the step and secure their spot! And when the instructor was ill last year, people would walk out and leave the gym when the class was canceled and were absolutely FURIOUS!

It's all in the instructor, if you want my opinion. This girl teaches like Cathe and has a great personality and people line up to take her class!

Personally I have never had anyone tell me that step is outdated or that was shocked that I still do step. I think that it is still generally accepted as a good method of exercise.

Christine :)
 
Christine, you're right. The instructor's gotta shine to pull the weight in the class. Do you mind telling me the city location of your gym?
 
I just joined a new Lifetime Fitness center (it opens July 9) here in the Twin Cities (MN). The class schedule offers many step classes; all different levels, on it's own, part of many different types of cardio, etc. It looks pretty popular to me.

I've been doing step since they first came out. I think that was the late 80's or early 90's. :eek: :eek:
 
Hi again...I just wanted to add this thought. It's just my opinion, but I've found that people who think Step is outdated or don't like it either have never tried it or taken one class (maybe a bad instructor?) and just never got the hang of it. I don't think anyone gets all the lingo on the steps the first time out, and it does take a little work and persistence to get the hang of it. And the instructor is key. But, once you do, and you have a great instructor, along with great music, well it's addictive.

It takes more work, in my opinion, to learn it, then say kickboxing. I remember my very first class over 11 years ago when the instructor said "horse shoe, straddle horse shoe". I was thinking what the heck did she just say and I of course was on the wrong side of the step the entire class.

I just wanted to add some more of what I've come to find...since you asked...haha:) :)
 
Just an FYI. Jane Fonda has at least 2 step videos because I own 2 of them. Don't ask me what they're called because I haven't done them in ages.

I think a lot of people are ignorant about aerobics classes in general - not just step. A lot of people I know in their 30s, 40s and up haven't set foot in a gym or worked out at home in quite awhile. I think they remember the leg warmers, etc. from back in the days they did workout. Just a theory.
 
Who cares what other people think about step? All that matters is that it's there for the people who do like it, IMO. I don't really feel any need to make people who aren't into it realize the error of their ways. :+
 
RE: Please help! Step popularity discussion: Your opin...

I go to a gym in NYC--the step classes don't seem to be hugely popular. But that's just my impression, based on what I've seen in my gym on the days that I go there. Could be different at other times of the day when I'm not at the gym and in other gyms. Hard to make a generalization that it's popular or not here. I do know that the spinning classes are packed in my gym, though.
 
I know most of my work out friends, run now. There was a time when three out of our group, including me, taught high impact aerobics. That's all we ever did. Then when our club phased it out we went to cardio kickboxing. Step was never for me, but when I used to work at my office job I got hooked on a 6A step class. Come to think of it, the instructor did some tricky combo's and mambo's like Cathe, but no blasts. We would be lining up on the outside of the club at 5:30A and then all run/walk fast to the aerobic's room to get our spot. That was in the early 90's. That was the last time I ever did step until I found Cathe in the beginning of the year. I know a lot of my friends think that the Stair climber and step aerobics builds their glutes and thighs, so I think that's why they steer clear of it. I, on the otherhand, am hooked all over again. If I can find a local class that can compare to Cathe I would be so happy!

I'm not sure if I answered your questions.

Dallas
 
I think step has lost some of its popularity because it has had to compete with a lot of new "fitness" crazes which have come out in the last couple of years. Tae Bo, Spinning, Yoga, Pilates come and go and the gyms and instructors start focusing on these instead of step since that is what is bringing the client who have seen in TV this is the best, latest, quickest way to lose weight.

Also step is hard to teach and routines are hard to come up with so many instructors just don't want to bother anymore. I am a instructor (just for fun) and I am amazed at the number of new instructors who just don't teach step but are certified in some crazy specialty. From what they tell me you can wing most of the other classes but you just wing step you have to prepare WAY before hand.

I think it is a great cardio music and also gives you some dance floor moves you can use.

Just my opinion :)

Kim
 
Hey, Kim --
I teach for fun, too, but I love it. I'd love to keep learning and maybe even get into more yoga, and possibly at some point dance/movement therapy. It's like, if I had a choice, I'd teach aerobics and maybe do some freelance writing or something. Make my own sked...how nice!
Anyway, about the step thing -- I have a fave instructor that I'm sort of emulating...I use some of his combos, and I'm getting better b/c it's what comes naturally. Not forced. Love it.
Thanks for replying. : )
 
The funny thing is that I don't teach more because I find it so hard to come up with routines.:) I am a good step instructor stalker and would leave any gym where they weren't at least two EXCELLENT step instrutors. :) I travel for work and I love to try new step classes in other cities. The strangest thing I found was the taped stepped classes in DC. The instructor would come in and turn on a recording of someone doing step and then leave us to do it following her voice.

Hope your article turns out well.
 
OK - I checked with my friend who still goes to the gym. She personally doesn't do classes, but step is still popular there.
 
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