NOTE: Cathe Friedrich's videos are
available by mail order, through Cathe's company,
Note for international readers: Cathe's videos
are currently available in NTSC format only. For more
information about international orders/shipping, e-mail
Facts/Comments about Cathe Friedrich
- Founded Step N Motion Videos in 1989
- Pioneer in advanced Step Aerobics
- Produced one of the very first Step Videos
- ACE Certified
- 16 years of teaching experience
- Starred in 14 exercise videos
- Videos have won numerous video awards, including
Best Step Video,by Self, Health and Fit Magazines
Comments:
I know I've written this a thousand times but
Cathe Friedrich is the very best step instructor on
video. Her tapes can only be purchased through either the
Collage catalog or Step n' Motion in New Jersey. I prefer
ordering through Step n' Motion since they give quantity
discouts.
Cathe's 4 advanced step tapes are: Mega Step Blast,
Step Max, Step Heat,and Step Jam. Cathe is extremely good
at breaking down intricate combinations before taking the
routine from the top. Her style is to teach two moves,put
them together, add on two more, etc. You practice each
combo of twomoves, then take the whole routine from the
top first on the right lead,then the left. Mega Step and
Step Max contain three sections of step, withlots of
power moves and fun combinations. They are about 40 to 45
minutes in length (total of all three sections) of pure
step aerobics, plus warm-up/cooldown. Step Heat is two
sections; the first section is long - about 25
minutes,and the second section about 10 minutes, plus
warm-up, cooldown, and a 7 minute ab section (great ab
work!) on the end before the final stretch.All of Cathe's
cooldowns are funky and again, she breaks the moves down
so that they are non-intimidating and easy to learn.
I would also like to note that I have tried a good
amount of step videos and no instructor has come close to
providing the instruction that Cathe does when she
teaches the moves for the first time. Her cuing is simply
unsurpassed (especially in Mega Step Blast and Step Jam).
If it weren't for her excellent instruction, I would
probably have a very hard time following her tapes.
Roberta Kagno
Cathe's tapes are the best around. The third section
of StepMax darn near kills me
every time. Step Heat is
the least intense of the three; both Step Max and Mega Stephave "leg and
bun blaster" third segments. Her cueing is
excellent,so while the tapes are advanced and the
choreography a bit complex at times,they're easy to
learn. Usually I get bored with tapes very quickly,
butI've been using these tapes for a long time now and
still find them challengingand fun.
Debbie Kenny
Cathe is one of the few instructors who continue to
turn out tapes that can challenge the most advanced
exercisers. Her step choreographyis creative, high
impact, and extremely intense. She is friendly and
motivating--a few too many "woo's" and
"oh, baby's" for my taste,but her routines are
exciting enough to more than make up for that. Her cuing
is always crystal clear and she builds her complex
routines methodically,so it's easy to catch on. I would
advise exercisers who are considering Cathe's advanced
tapes (Step Max, Step Heat, Mega Step Blast, Step Jam)to
be sure they have 1) a solid grasp of correct form for
"power stepping" and 2) sufficient
cardiovascular/muscle strength to perform certain
steps(e.g. hop turns) correctly. Overall, though, I
highly recommend Cathe'smost recent tapes (1994 or later)
to all advanced exercisers.
Wendy Niemi
Kremer
Cathe is a wonderful instructor! Her queing is always
flawless. All of her workouts are excellent for the
advancedstepper. I hope she never stops making videos,
because I would be crushed!
Kathy Lapinski
Cathe is great...that's all there is to say!
Melanie Higgins
What can I say about this woman? Perfect cuing, consistently great music, unique fun moves, high intensity all the way -- why do I even keep trying videos from other instructors? I'm spoiled!
Joni O.
I began purchasing her tapes on the strength of the
reviews at this web site. I have not been disappointed!
The two tapes I have, Power Max and Get In Shape for Your
Wedding, are very intense, and I find that I hardly
realize how hard I'm working because they are so much
fun. I plan to purchase more of her tapes as finances
allow.
Barbara Paola
Her cueing is very good and her moves are some of the
most fun and original I've seen on tape. Whenever I
finish her workout I feel like I just came from a class
at the gym. Her moves are challenging enough that you can
add power each time you view the tape. Which means that
you can use her tapes for a while without getting bored.
More mileage for the buck - gotta love that. For an
intense aerobic workout for intermediate/advanced
exercisers Cathe's tapes are a must!!
Lisa Herzog
Cathe Friedrich is well known for her advanced step
classes. Her cuing is outstanding, her choreography
complex, the level of her workout is "killer,"
as most review it, and I agree. She has a lot of spunk
and personality and her videos are lots of fun. She
clearly enjoys making step tapes. I own several of her
videos and she does not disappoint.
Joe Rosenfeld
3/16/97
Fantastic. Great cueing. Everything flows gracefully
so that you hardly knows the time goes by
Anne
Cathe's cueing is excellent. She's a high energy
instructor without being annoying. She always seems like
she's having so much fun!
Alexandra
Okay, Cathe cues well, she has personality, she knows her stuff. But so do a dozen other step instructors, without that awful WHOOPING! I've tried and tried to ignore it, to no avail. And every once in awhile, Cathe suddenly yelps "OW-OW-OW!!" like a puppy whose tail was stepped on, and it almost makes me jump out of my skin. I would probably like Cathe a lot if she would just cut out the whooping. If she ever comes out with a non-whooping tape (not that I'm holding my breath), please let me know. Until then, I'm sticking with CIA.
Sue Bryant
Cathe Friedrich is popular among most VFers, it seems, except me. For some reason, I just don't care for her tapes or her teaching style.
Annie S.
I think Cathe is the best thing to happen to step workouts. I like her personality, I love her routines, and the "whoop" factor doesn't bother me at all. Cathe is the kind of instructor that you can trust. Her moves are safe and her cuing is excellent. Plus she is just so NICE, I am happy to spend an hour of my time working out with her.
Loleen
I have to put in my two cents regarding Cathe F. as a video creator/leader. I see why so many love her workouts. She's happy, encouraging, and moves very well——by that I mean she's very clear about cuing and making it easy to follow her just by watching. And no other videos provide the cardio workouts that hers do.
In addition, though, I don't care for all her videos. I was never able to make it through StepMax or Step Heat. For some reason, I just hated them. They weren't fun for me, I felt aggravated by the sets, the music, the routine and the commentaries.
PowerMax and BodyMax, in contrast, will probably never go out of rotation for me. I'd rate them A+ for sweat, A for choreography, A for holding interest.
Beth
10-16-98
Thank goodness for Cathe Friedrich! She is so motivating and her workouts are so much fun! They are very challenging, but somehow she makes you feel as if you can do them. I have never been so excited about exercising and I actually look forward to it! I even hate to miss a day, where in the past I would make excuses to skip a workout. All of the other videos I have are so boring (with the exception of Power Kicks!)... nothing compares to a Cathe workout!!!!!!!
Delia
3/30
Thank goodness for Cathe Friedrich! She is so motivating and her workouts are so much fun! They are very challenging, but somehow she makes you feel as if you can do them. I have never been so excited about exercising and I actually look forward to it! I even hate to miss a day, where in the past I would make excuses to skip a workout. All of the other videos I have are so boring (with the exception of Power Kicks!)... nothing compares to a Cathe workout!!!!!!!
Delia
3/30
