Step beginner straight to CTX?

[Mariela]

I have never done a step workout before, but would like to start Cathe's step workouts. Do you think I will need a "pre-Cathe" tape, such as Kathy Smith Step Workout? ***OR*** Do you think I should start with something like "Step Heat", "Mega Step Blast", "The Wedding Video"? ***OR*** Could I just go straight to CTX videos? I would like to buy CTX but I'm not sure if I am ready for those step workouts. I am quite uncoordinated. I currently do low impact aerobics and stationary bike. I can climb the stairs of my house running without feeling my heart and sometimes with my one year old daughter in my arms.

I know it will take me a while to get whatever coreography I do, but I will practice it in a rest day (as I read in another thread).

 

[kweller]

Hi,
It took me a good year learning step to work up to trying my first Cathe step tape (Wedding tape). I would highly recommend you first try Kathy Smith Step Wkt, Kathy Smith Power Step Wkt, KAthy Smith Fat Burning Breakthrough, and maybe Karen Voights Circuit Training (I think that is the name; it's one of her new ones-step intervals with weights circuits). I named those in the order I used them. I am telling you this because it takes awhile to 'get' the step. It's like a whole other plane you are working with, and it really takes time to get adjusted to doing step aerobics. I myself am very choreo-challenged (as you can probably tell ) I am also a slow-learner. So take what applies to you and leave the rest.
The good news: I was almost giving up on step aerobics (there are a lot of badly-cued step tapes out there), and then one day (or perhaps over a succession of days) it finally sunk in, and I was able to try and learn more choreographed routines (not ultra-basic) like the last two I mentioned above. That led me to feeling I was 'ready' to attempt Cathe. I'm now doing the older Cathe step tapes, and I use her new and older hi/lo tapes (for me,not as tricky as step). I do have CTX but plan to tackle the step aerobics on those workouts after I have learned more of her earlier step, because the workouts in CTX move along at a very brisk pace and there is almost no redoing a move a bunch of times and then adding on slowly. It's all quick-quick-quick so you have to be familiar with her moves in order to catch on quickly. I'd love to hear from someone who dived right in to these workouts as a first-timer to Cathe. Now that would be interesting to hear .
Hope this is helpful to you,
Kathy

 

[DebbieH]

Mariela!

I started out with the Wedding vid and MegaStepBlast and did fine...and, loved the workouts as my intro into Cathe. This is coming from someone that is also choreo-challenged. I think they were very good starter tapes. The choreo on the CTX tapes is a bit more of a challenge, but not after you progress gradually up to it. The CTX does have high impact but it can be easily modified. Let us know what you decide.

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[DebbieH]

Ha!

Just goes to show what two different people's opinions are!! You could always start off with the two I mentioned and if you see they are too much for you, shelf them & go get the others that Kathy recommended. Trust me, it won't be long til you will be ready for Cathe tapes and the you will want them all!

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[Lynda]

I personally think that Kathy Smith's Fat Burning tape is poorly cued and the Karen Voight is even worse. On the other hand, Kathy Smith's step tape is very good for beginners, as is Voight's Energy Sprint--and both of them include some excellent weight work, abs, etc. One of the best tapes for beginners is one by Kathy Kaehler, but I don't know if it is still for sale (it is with celebrities, and broken up into three parts which grow in intensity and difficulty). I think you might be able to start with Cathe's Step Heat or the Mega Step Blast.

 

[tmrclvlnd]

My very first step tape was Kathy Smith's and I didn't like it. My second was Cathe's Wedding video and I did just fine after about 3 tries. I did Mega Step Blast twice and caught on fairly quickly and also did Step and Intervals and caught on no problem. Then I did the hi-lo in Power Circuit - that will take a few tries. Some people do fine with step and catch on quickly yet can't do hi/lo (that would be me) and others take a lot longer to catch on to step.

I would suggest starting out with the wedding video and Mega Step Blast to get used to Cathe's style and her cuing. CTX moves very quickly and is only 30 minutes long and if you are standing there with your mouth hanging open rather than working out (again, that would be me ) you won't get much out of it.

If you find out you catch on to step quickly then CTX might be for you.

 

[Connie1]

My very first was IMax. The choreography was simple but she turns away right at the beginning (back to the TV!) But that was the only tough part. Well, the intervals are very intense but the step portions are easy to learn.

Step is really simple, the same moves over and over, just lots of them. The best way to learn is to just watch and do. I was 42 and intimidated by step but I got IMax as a gift by accident. I didn't own a step. I started doing it without the step. Now at 43 I'm a "steppin fool" like Lynne! So be like me and dive right in!