Step aerobics provide a fun cardiovascular workout, which also tones your leg muscles and improves your sense of rhythm and coordination. Despite its benefits, sticking to the basic steps may lead to boredom and burnout. Choreographic changes help you maintain your interest in the workout, but purchasing multiple-step videos is expensive. If you have a tight budget for fitness-related expenses, some online sites let you download choreography for free or a nominal fee.
Written Choreography
Turnstep.com was one of the first aerobics choreography websites on the Internet. The name Turnstep comes from one of the most common step aerobic movements. The site precedes the creation of Internet videos, so all of the choreography is written in step-by-step patterns. Unlike commercial aerobics sites, which use well-known fitness presenters for their videos, Turnstep choreography uses regular instructors working in the industry. Because anyone can contribute, quality may vary. If you need to brush up on step terminology, take a look at the Turnstep dictionary page.
Free Downloads
Fitmoves.com offers free step videos for download. While they are not full-length classes, it's possible to connect the different choreographic segments to create your own workout. You will need Microsoft Windows, which is available for free. Right-click on the name of the link, and select "save as." When the download completes, double click to open the video in your browser. The website features step choreography with dance themes. Some of the segments are faster than the suggested 128 beats per minute, so you may need to slow them down when you're doing your own. DailyMotion a similar website, is like YouTube for step and aerobic instructors. Teachers make videos of their routines and post them on the site for free downloading.
Choreography
Power Music was one of the first companies to produce aerobic music tapes. It also produce short step videos for download. As of March 2011, each video cost $3.95. The company organizes the downloads by theme, which include Latin, country and jazz. Choreography2Go, a British company owned by step instructor Rachel Holmes, has a similar product. Holmes emphasizes intermediate step and power-step patterns, which add running and jumping moves to the basic step patterns.
Step Teaching
Many people learn to teach step in specialized instructor-training workshops. These events sometimes cause a dilemma for working instructors. Attending a workshop often involves travel plans and unpaid vacation from work. The Healthy Learning website has a step instructor's video called " Powerful Teaching: Step Choreography." It features well-known fitness presenters Petra Kolber and Rob Glick. The video teaches step fundamentals, class structure, communication and cuing, working with music and step choreography. The presenters also give examples of cool-down stretches.
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