Victoria, I was on vacation and did a step class and really enjoyed it. It was hard to follow but I got a good sweat. The next day my legs were sore, what are the benefits of doing it consistently? Will it help me lose weight?

Carissa


 
Carissa, You are asking a great question. This is one of my favorite areas to write about. I was a pioneer in bring dance movement to step training. When I first started teaching step aerobics and my legs exploded and I started looking like a linebacker.

I had two platforms under my step and it was too much for my body type. I redesigned my programs to incorporate dance styles and techniques that develop tight sculpted legs rather than big blocky ones.

I was able to trim one inch off my thighs and three inches off my hips and butt. I now am able to keep a tight lower body using my Dance Step Training. It is still one of my favorite workouts. I especially love using hot hit energy music in all of my workouts.

Step training is also phenomenal for coordination and balance. At first you may find yourself tripping, getting lost and not being able to follow the instructions. But, as your ability to move to the music improves you will find your sense of balance, timing and agility will improve rather quickly.

Clyde Glided on the Step

Clyde Drexler is one of the most talented professional athletes of our time. You'll be surprised to learn that he was in one of my Step Training Classes when he played for the Portland Trailblazers. At first a few of the moves were a little difficult, but as he allowed his body to follow the rhythms, he soon mastered the combinations like the pro that he is. I can unabashedly say that Clyde glided on the Step.

You can really see that he has an ability to follow music and move with quickness on ABC’s reality series Dancing with the Stars. It is extremely difficult for someone of His stature, 6’7” tall and 220 pounds, to move as fast he does. He has great agility and that’s why he’s been doing very well. Dance step Training definitely increases agility and as a sports conditioning tool, I use it with many of my professional athletes that I train.

Here we are after I had just busted him power eating some Ice Cream! Hey, when you are as tall as Clyde you have pack in a lot of calories to maintain good muscle mass.

Move Your Butt to Burn Fat

Carissa, it takes 3500 calories of activity to burn off 1 pound of fat, so, for example, you would need to do 18 half-hour sessions of vigorous walking (9 hours) per week, in order to burn off a pound of fat in a week! That takes more exercise than you need to do to be within near death health guidelines that government officials recommend- most health professionals recommend 3 to 5 20-30-minute sessions a week for general health benefits.

I have no clue what they say those are. Because for me 20 minutes to pick out which outfit I am going to wear to class!

If your goal is to lose weight, you need to combine eating fewer calories with burning more calories in order to make significant progress and slim down your hips, butt, thighs and abs. When it comes to fat on your lower body, you have to move it to lose it!

Here is an example of how efficient Step Training is for fat burning.

FAT BURNING CHART

Yoga  93 Kcals
Pilates Exercises  120 Kcals
Aerobics (low impact) 189 Kcals
Walking (vigorous)  195 Kcals
Step Aerobics (low impact) 225 Kcals

*Kcals (calories burned in 30 minutes) 


Fantastic Benefits of Step Aerobics

Improve Overall Physical Health
Step aerobics provides us with endurance, strength and flexibility training. Endurance training not only burns fat, it helps maintain the health of your cardiovascular system. It helps improve your coordination and balance. There are certain moves that can even help with your flexibility training, which improves joint health.

Improve mental health
Step aerobics has a positive impact on your mental health. My Dance Step workouts are fun and positively challenging. You will laugh while you train and that helps release stress while flooding your system with healthy happy hormones called endorphins.

Other benefits of step aerobics that mature women may not be aware of include improving your cholesterol levels, with increased burning of calories. It also helps to lower the risk of heart disease.

A big plus is the fact that this exercise does not place the joints, especially knees, under intense pressure as does running. This is the reason why step aerobics is called a low impact activity, and has become so popular with fitness enthusiasts. You don’t have to bounce your brains out like the old days to burn fat anymore.

Because it is low impact, step aerobics does not require that you step too hard when coming off the bench as this will only serve to cause injury.

Carissa, Step Training if done properly is an awesome workout and it will definitely help you burn fat! If you go to the gym a couple of days a week, then get one or two of my DVD’s and work out with me at home a couple of days. You will be amazed at how your energy, coordination and body shape will improve.

Be sure to watch Dancing with the Stars this week. Clyde and Elena Grinenko are going to dance the Jive. He hopes that the comments will be positive, and the scores will be higher than last week. His mother joins the pair to show off her own dancing skills. She says, "Elena is a great dancer, and Clyde is - coming along." Good Luck Clyde!

Carissa, have a great week and get to stepping! Live Your Best Life This Week! God Bless and make it the Best Week Ever!


Your Celebrity Personal Trainer!