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Step Aerobics

The choreography and clothing of step may look daunting but get over that and give it a try. Step is a full-on cardio workout to music that firms the thighs, shapes the bum and hones the hamstrings.

If you've ever peeked in at a step class in action you could well have imagined yourself back in the 80s exercise hell of leotards, leg warmers and shrieking about 'feeling the burn'. This is a shame since it means that a lot of women, and almost all men, decide on the spot that they are either too uncoordinated, too unfit, too well-dressed or simply too male to take part in the choreographed stampede of a step class.

When step was first introduced it was billed as 'the workout with muscle'. Unlike all that aerobics skipping around that went before it, step introduced high repetition strength moves. This also made it slightly more acceptable to men and it fitted in well with the new man of the 90s who realised that women tended to be more interested in a well-turned buttock than a hairy back and the kind of cleavage shown when builders bend over.

Steps of any kind are a surprisingly hard workout - just ask anyone who doesn't live and work in a bungalow. Stepping up and down for an hour is a thorough cardio workout and is only made possible by a careful mix of different moves and motivating music. There's something oddly satisfying in the tap-tap-thud routine akin to, but marginally less embarrassing than, line dancing. Spend a few minutes watching a step class of regulars, everyone beat perfect, stomping their way through their favourite numbers and you'll witness a semi-mystical rite more normally associated with shamans and dervishes.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Make sure you start with a beginners' class: step is hard enough work without the stress of playing catch-up. You'll probably warm up with some nice simple side-to-side movements, a bit of stretching as you sway, and some step up/downs. Then the pace will gradually pick up with new moves being added such as stepping sideways on the step, stepping down on the other side, stepping over the step with a twirl to face the other way. The whole thing is done to a strong beat - you'll find the effect a little like slow-motion morris dancing with added leotards. You may be surprised by how much you sweat. Step is one of those things where it gets easier the better you get at it. As a newbie you are putting in more effort, and getting more of a workout, than the more slick-looking steppers around you.

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