tricky steps

Calee

Cathlete
Hi All,

So my question this time is, Does anyone have a hard time with LowMax? Granted, I have two left feet, but the choreography is so hard for met to get. I always seem to end up facing the wrong way or on the wrong side of my step! x( Any tips or tricks? I especially have a hard time with the reverse mambo...
Calee
 
Hi, Calee.
There are some tricky moves on this one, and several twisty, turny moves that make it harder to follow. Also, Cathe doesn't cue this one as well as her earlier workouts, and some moves aren't cued logically, IMO. Like the "knee smash repeater" (the same name is used, more logically, in an earlier workout refering to three knee smashes in a row, while the move used in Low Max is called, logically, a "kickbox repeater" in an earlier workout).

I always preview workouts before doing them the first time, and when I come across a move that seems tricky, I make sure to pay special attention, and count out the steps (all moves can be broken down into an 8-count). ALso, pay attention to whether you are putting weight on the foot (in preparation to go onto the other foot moving in the same direction) or whether it's more of a 'tap down' or a mambo-type move after which you are going to change directions)

On the reverse mambo, for example, the steps are as follows:
1-right foot on far end of step (preparing to turn)
2-left foot on step (you are now facing backwards)
3-right foot on floor, BUT don't put weight on it (you are preparing to reverse direction)
4-weight on left foot that is still on step
5-right foot on floor
6-left foot on floor
7/8 (I forget what the transition is here! You'll have to watch)

It also sometimes helps me to make my own cues for some moves. For example, the 'triple around the step' move in LM didn't click with me until I cued it as "step-step-triple...triple" rather than just "triple around."

HTH
 
FYI: you are definitely NOT alone on finding this tricky. If you do an advanced search on "Low Max" in this "Video and DVD Questions and Comments," in the 'Subject" area, you will find a few threads dealing with the subject (and some more tips on how to approach it).
 
Calee,

Hi...I am actually learning Low Max right now too. Last week I did the Premix for intervals 1-4 and then I finished the week with Premix for intervals 4-7. Today I did the Premix for the step combos only and found that to be much better. So I'm going to stick with doing the combos only premix for awhile, bump up to 8" (currently using 6"), then go back and do the interval premixes. Once I feel I can do it in its entirety I will.

I have to say I watched it 2-3 times before I attempted to do it. The first time I did it, I just stopped and went back to the beginning of the chapter when I couldn't pick up the move. I would repeat it until I got it and then went from there. It is tricky, but it's fun. It's definitely alot harder than I thought it would be. I did Low Impact Step first and mastered that before I did Low Max. I'm glad that I did that bcuz some of the Low Max moves are in Low Impact Step.

Keep doing the premixes and stopping and starting as you need to. I found when I do that, I just pick it up. I thought I did much better today than I did last week. Hey...we'll get through this one together!! :p

Shonda
 
You will get it.
I just unwrapped step jump pump this week after 6 months. I liked it.
I just followed her cueing and breezed right through.
It is tough at 1st , then all the sudden ,WALA. That was so easy and i made it hard.
Do you have slow motion?
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina
 
Calee,

Stick with it. There are some tricky moves in LM, but once it all clicks (and it will) it is an awesome workout. I just kept trying and trying and kept moving until one day my own moves became those of Cathe. Boy, I was surprised and thrilled.:7
 
Hi Shonda,
That's a good idea to just do the premixes... I was just trying to plod my way through it, muddling the tricky moves pretty badly! I'll try that for a while.
Also, thank you everyone for your suggestions; I guess the main thing is to just keep doing it. I get to impatient with myself:p
Calee
 
>On the reverse mambo, for example, the steps are as follows:
>1-right foot on far end of step (preparing to turn)
>2-left foot on step (you are now facing backwards)
>3-right foot on floor, BUT don't put weight on it (you are
>preparing to reverse direction)
>4-weight on left foot that is still on step
>5-right foot on floor
>6-left foot on floor
>7/8 (I forget what the transition is here! You'll have to
>watch)

Thanks, Kathryn. This is the very move I have trouble with in LM. I'll try these instructions out! :)
 
I have found that if you play the tape at 1/2 speed while walking through it (no step) you familiarize your feet to the moves a lot faster than just previewing it sitting down. I call it "active previewing". Once I get the footwork down at 1/2 speed, I then speed it up a little until I am at full speed and run through it at full speed a couple of times. Then, when I go to do the tape with the step, it's a lot more comfortable.
 
I agree. Low Max is tricky. I still have a hard time with a few of the moves but I just modify them. What I did with Low Max was after my regular workout I put that one in and practiced each cycle until I got it down. It took a few days of doing this but I got it eventually. I don't like to waste my workout trying to learn it so I would do my regular workout and then practice that one. Granted I didn't get to bed until really late those nights but it was worth it. Now I do low max at least once if not twice a week. It is one of my favorite cardio workouts. I don't have any of her older step workouts though. I plan on purchasing Imax2 & Cardio & Weights in September so hopefully that one will be easier to learn. I also have IMAX3 but I haven't had time to break that one down and try it. Plus it totally scares me!!!! hahahaha It makes me tired just thinking about it!!! :)
 

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