What are the Easiest Cardio DVD's to Learn in Terms of Choreography?

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daybreak

Cathlete
Hi Everybody!

I'm starting STS in a couple of days and I'm trying to plan my cardio routines for the days in between. The only thing I have lined up so far is running (which is what I normally do for cardio).

My collection of Cathe DVD's consist of all strength training but would like to add in a few cardio-based ones. My problem is that it takes me a LONG time to figure out choreography - seriously, it's quite pathetic!

ONCE I get it, I'm pretty good at it - I'm not clumsy at all - it just takes me a while to get the moves down. Clearly I'm missing that part of my brain. :p

Anyway, I'd rather not spend my time figuring out moves. So, which of Cathe's cardio DVD's are relatively easy with regards to choreography?

Thanks for your help!

Dawn
 
I would say the easiest would be the HiiTs and Cardio Core Circuit. For HiiT 30/30 and 40/20, the warm up on the step might take a little learning curve but after that each interval is straight athletic drills. So you would do tuck jumps for 30 seconds, rest for 30 seconds, and then move on to a different drill for 30 seconds. CCC is similar in that you do the same move for about 30 seconds then move on to a new move. The cardio portion of 4DS Bootcamp is also drill based so not a lot of choreography (there may be one step segment but I can’t remember if that is 4DS BC or Drill Max). Afterburn and Cardio Supersets are drill based as well and do not have complex choreography.

If you are interested in learning step, I would start with Basic Step. I’m pretty choreography challenged as well and did Basic Step for about a month (3-4 days a week) before I felt comfortable moving onto Low Impact Step. Basic Step is great for beginners to get an understanding of not only step but Cathe’s terminology. Low Impact Step adds more moves to what you learn in Basic Step. After that, you could move onto The Classics and then Cardio Hits. I found starting with Cathe’s earlier step workouts made it easier for me to learn some of her classic moves she uses in later videos but doesn’t break down because everyone knows them.

If you want to try kickboxing, try one of the MMA workouts as the breakdown is pretty good and there isn’t much choreography outside of the finished combo. MMA Fusion may be a little trickier with the choreography so save this for last—although it is my favorite of the MMAs. Kick Max is also good in the breakdown of the combos and the blast is drill based with no choreography.

Hope that helped a little!
 
Julie,

Thank you SO much for taking the time to write this up. It is so helpful! I went and watched the clips of all the DVD's you mentioned. I wouldn't haven known where to start without you. :)

So, I just downloaded Basic Step, Hiit 30/30, and CCC - and got them all for $23.94. So, I'm ready to go!

I'll let you know how I do. Wish me luck. ;)

Thanks Again,
Dawn
 
Good Luck, I was going to suggest many of the same workouts! I wanted to add that Cardio Supersets of the LIS series is one not to count out if you dont have a set of gliding discs. In fact I dont own discs at all and this one still is great. I love all the LIS workouts thus far! I sub other moves such as jumping jacks or mountain climbers. There really are only a few exercises that use the discs.

Kick Punch & Crunch is also relatively easy to learn and has many shorter premixes as well.
 
jldx2in2000 said:
I would say the easiest would be the HiiTs and Cardio Core Circuit. For HiiT 30/30 and 40/20, the warm up on the step might take a little learning curve but after that each interval is straight athletic drills. So you would do tuck jumps for 30 seconds, rest for 30 seconds, and then move on to a different drill for 30 seconds. CCC is similar in that you do the same move for about 30 seconds then move on to a new move. The cardio portion of 4DS Bootcamp is also drill based so not a lot of choreography (there may be one step segment but I can’t remember if that is 4DS BC or Drill Max). Afterburn and Cardio Supersets are drill based as well and do not have complex choreography.

If you are interested in learning step, I would start with Basic Step. I’m pretty choreography challenged as well and did Basic Step for about a month (3-4 days a week) before I felt comfortable moving onto Low Impact Step. Basic Step is great for beginners to get an understanding of not only step but Cathe’s terminology. Low Impact Step adds more moves to what you learn in Basic Step. After that, you could move onto The Classics and then Cardio Hits. I found starting with Cathe’s earlier step workouts made it easier for me to learn some of her classic moves she uses in later videos but doesn’t break down because everyone knows them.

If you want to try kickboxing, try one of the MMA workouts as the breakdown is pretty good and there isn’t much choreography outside of the finished combo. MMA Fusion may be a little trickier with the choreography so save this for last—although it is my favorite of the MMAs. Kick Max is also good in the breakdown of the combos and the blast is drill based with no choreography.

Hope that helped a little!
Click to expand...

Dawn,

ITA with everything Julie has suggested!

I would like to add that I too started with Basic Step. Actually no wait, I lied, I downloaded Intensity thinking "how hard can step be? You go up, you come down". Yup, not so easy :rolleyes:. Anyway, 1 year later and several Cathe step workouts later, I'm a die hard stepper enjoying everything from Step Moves to Imax3. If a total step novice like me can do it, anyone can! I'm not only sweating and burning lots of calories, but I'm having fun :).

Enjoy the Cathe cardio's. You are in for a real treat :eek:. Please come back and give your thoughts on CCC and 40/20 :eek:

Natasha
 
Stacy, you convinced me - I downloaded LIS Cardio Supersets as well! I have LIS Total Body Trisets and I really like it so I'm thinking I'll like Cario Supersets as well!

Natasha, thanks for your input on Basic Step. I can imagine it will be really fun when I get the moves down! Big week for me next week - start of STS AND new Cathe cardio workouts! :eek:

Oh question - when you follow along with Cathe - do you follow as a mirror image (listening to what she says) or do you follow along with the same side she's actually using? I generally mimic the actual side she's using but maybe with the cardio it's easier as a mirror image?

Thanks again everybody!

Dawn
 
For Cathe's cardio you do the mirror image (hope that's the right response!) For example if you're facing the tv and Cathe says step up with your right foot, you actually use your right foot (Cathe will actually be using her left. I dont know how she manages to cue the opposite side she is actually doing but she does!!) If you try to do it the other way you'll end up facing the opposite direction sometimes and it's just harder to follow along.

Please report back, cant wait to here how you're doing!! Sounds like you've got a fun week ahead!!
 
Stacy said:
For Cathe's cardio you do the mirror image (hope that's the right response!) For example if you're facing the tv and Cathe says step up with your right foot, you actually use your right foot (Cathe will actually be using her left. I dont know how she manages to cue the opposite side she is actually doing but she does!!) If you try to do it the other way you'll end up facing the opposite direction sometimes and it's just harder to follow along.

Please report back, cant wait to here how you're doing!! Sounds like you've got a fun week ahead!!
Click to expand...


Exactly what she said!!! :D
 
Stacy, thanks so much for checking in!

The week was great! Loved it, loved it, loved it! :) STS is everything I hoped for and more. It is such a high-quality program - I'm so thrilled! Cathe is just amazing in it. An I love the variety of exercises.

For my cardio in between - I worked on Basic Step. I'm doing much better with that than I thought I would. Though it did take me 45 minutes to get through the 7 minute warm up the first time - but ya know - that's okay. Ha Ha Ha.

I'm trying to decide what to do today for cardio. I haven't done much with upper body since Wednesday so I'm thinking I'll download kickboxing to get my arms moving. This instant gradification with the downloads is dangerous!

Thanks again for checking in! Cathe, all of her products, and this amazing forum has really made working out such an fun part of my day. I might even go as far as saying working out is officially a "hobby" of mine! :)
 
Daybreak- For a good upper body focused day how about MMA Boxing? I love that one. I will usually do the cardio drills twice and skip the core workout for a great 60 min. fix and the choreography is super easy.

I have found CCC too be very advanced (not choreo just level of intensity.)

The HIIT workouts are great but sometimes they feel like they hit my lower body so do that at the opposite end of the week from your lower body STS days.

I also like the older step workouts from Gin Miller. You can preview some on Collage or Netflix. I also netflix it first (if I can.) before buying.

This morning I tried the 10 min. fix from Petra Kolber, its probably not intense enough for you but it felt really good.

You can always do a lower impact road workout by wearing a weighted vest. If you try that be sure to add the weight in your hrm because thats how it calculates calories burned and then when you are done reset the weight back to normal. I am especially fond of hill climbing for lower impact but it is a lower body workout, so again, not the day before or after lower body STS.

Don't forget to try epsom salt baths to relieve soreness/doms and be sure to ice afterwards (like you do on a run day.) This will be more needed during STS than at any other time;)
 
Good job!! I actually DO consider working out and this forum a hobby!! :)

What kickboxing workout did you choose?? I really love kickboxing! I've been doing step for about 25 years and I still fumble around at first when I get a new workout, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Plus, with Cathe you'll get the feel of her workouts and cueing so that way learning her other step routines wont take quite as long.

Keep it up!!
 
RapidBreath, thanks for all your suggestions!

Yesterday, I tackled at HiiT 30/30 - that was great! The step warm up in the beginning wasn't horribly difficult. I'm finding I really enjoy HiiT training (I was doing that on the treadmill - with high intensity bursts instead of study running). It's so much more enjoyable and makes the time go faster.

My workout room is in the finished basement and my ceilings are somewhat low so some of the exercises I had to modify a bit with my arms so I wouldn't crash through the drop ceiling :eek: - especially the plyo jacks.

Stacy, I did go to download MMA boxing yesterday but Cathe's download site was down - I'm guessing that was a sign! Maybe I'll get that one for next weekend!
 
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