Tracey Staehle''s Hi/Lo Med Ball workout

I would not categorize this workout at hi/lo. For me, it just wasn''t that intense. There were differences in intensities, but it was more like very low impact to sort of low impact.

I do like Tracey as a person and like to support up and coming instructors, but her workouts are just not intense enough for me. I could overlook the things I don''t like if the workouts challenged me, but they don''t.

What I liked about the workout:

**the 70''s music. I haven''t heard these tunes in years and it''s fun to hear them again.

**Tracey''s dancey style. Most of the other instructors I follow, e.g. Cathe Friedrich and Amy Bento, have a more athletic style. This is nice for a change.

**Tracey is very relaxed in front of the camera. She looks like she''s having fun and this makes me have fun doing the workout.

**the interesting set. I like the dark wood floors and walls. This backdrop seemed more `real'' that the artificial looking ones from most DVDs.

What I didn''t like about the workout:

**the mis-categorizing of this workout as advanced. I would say it''s more of an advanced beginner or low intermediate. I use this workout as a warm-up to a more intense one, or on those days when I want to do something light.

**there isn''t a lot of med ball work. This workout would have been more effective if Tracey had put a med ball interval in between each hi/lo section. As it stands, the med/ball sections appear to me as an afterthought and break up the workout flow.

**static/feedback from Tracey''s microphone. I would hope by now, Tracey would have worked out production details like this.

**there are a few places where the routine is off-beat from the music. This is also something I don''t understand. I own over 100 exercise DVDs from many instructors and none of the other instructors have trouble staying on the beat.

**odd and artsy camera shots. Too many side shots and not enough front and center full shots of Tracey doing the steps. It''s not at all helpful to see a side upper body shot of background exercisers Jill and Barbie. I can appreciate Tracey wanting to try something different, but it didn''t work.

If you like Tracey Staehle, you might like this workout. If you''re looking for a low intensity workout, you might like this. Otherwise, I suggest renting it first to see if you click with it.

Some dance, some athletic hi/lo and some ultra fun kickbox! This is my go to workout that can get me off the counch when I dont want to workout. Tracey sparkles and the choreography is more fun than anything I can remember in a very long time.

The med ball sections are brief but very enjoyable, particularly the med ball abs at the end. I dont have a med ball and just sub with a light dumbbele and I do fine.

The music is a blast. Instrumental versions of golden pop. It starts with Barry White''s "My Everything" and that puts a smile on my face, especially coupled with Tracey''s groovy, dancy and yet easy to pick up moves. There is also "Superfreak" and "Bad Case of Loving You".

The camera work isnt too great. A real pity because this is such a perfectly executed workout where everything else is so special. I did not have the heart to deduct a star for the flaws in production though, because I still love this workout.

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