Cathe Live Review: Step Express w Blasts (#26)
Step Express w Blasts is a cardio step and interval workout. This was such a fun and fast routine that it just flew by.
This is one of Cathe’s express workouts and packs a lot into a short amount of time. The routine consists of four step combos with step blasts mixed in. I was definitely breathing a little harder during some of the blasts as you often do two back to back.
The step combos are shorter than Cathe’s usual combos so there are not so many steps to learn here. They are also slightly more athletic type moves, however, that does not mean that they are always that easy but they are mixed with straight forward blasts and that felt more the emphasis of the workout than the step combos. This routine reminded me very much of Cathe’s step DVD – Athletic Step. Many of the moves and combos are straight out of that workout so if you are familiar with those you will have seen most of these before. I found the second combo the trickiest in terms of footwork. The knee off the side, shuffle and skip move took a little mastering but I got there!
Each combo is built up slowly so you do have a chance to learn the moves. There are also blasts mixed in, while you are learning the combos, just to keep the heart rate up a little higher. Mine stayed pretty elevated throughout. The final combos are repeated four times before moving into a couple of blasts and then a water break. You then move onto the next combo. Only combo 3 does not have blasts at the end.
The blasts themselves are all straight forward moves and are done for just long enough to get you breathing without completing fatiguing you.
Overall, this was a fun step routine that is perfect for when you are short on time and need a quick and effective cardio blast.
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The Workout
Step Express w Blasts is cardio step workout consisting of four combos with blasts mixed throughout. Cathe used a full size step, with one riser on each side, for this routine. You could always increase to two risers, if you want to increase the intensity a little further.
What You Need to Know
(Rating scale – 1= lowest & 5 = highest).
The Moves
Step Express w Blasts is 41 minutes long and originally aired on 30th October 2014 (#26). The workout starts with a 6 minute warm-up using the step. You will need to make sure you have space all around your step for this routine. Below are the finished combos but each one is built up gradually, in stages, to give you a chance to learn a few of the moves before adding on more.
Combo 1
2 Power jig, pivot turn, diagonal basic
Elbow to knee & triples around the step
Knee lift & hold at the bottom, shift & knee up
Interval Blasts
Push up in place & go over (abductions) in 4’s then around the corner, in 2’s & 6 singles
Jacks / fast feet / jump ropes
Quick water break at 13:15 minutes
Combo 2
V on top, back it up & V on floor, shuffle front, V on top, back it up & V on floor, shuffle
Scoop on step x2, scoop turn, over laterally across step, quarter hop turn to the front
2 Knee repeater, rebound, ricochet over step & back, jack
Knee off side, shuffle, skip across the step, shuffle, skip across the step, exit
Interval Blasts
Jacks / shoot over & over x2 / power 15
Straddle jump down & double jump on step (while turning)
Quick water break at 24:10 minutes
Combo 3
Up & turn on step, step down & march back, push up in place (on floor with arms up & forward) x2, power hop forward, jump on step & down, power hop forward & jump on step (turning), wide lunges x3, knee up & exit
Interval Blast
Knee off side of step & wide lunges x3
Repeat Combo 3 two more times
Quick water break at 29:40 minutes
Combo 4
Mambo cha cha, pivot turn, cha cha, knee off side of step, drop squat & box step, cha cha
Knee off side of step & rock, shuffle across, rock, shuffle across, rock, shuffle across, rock & knee off side
Interval Blasts
Step knee down tap (jumping) x4 on each corner / Jacks
Shuffle, shuffle drop / shuffle, shuffle drop with 3 squats
The workout ends with a 4 minute cool down and stretch.
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If you liked this workout, check out my review of Cathe Live: 2014 Roadtrip All Step – HERE.
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