Working your Figure (Eight)

Hey Everyone! I love this site and use it often! I have been teaching since June and have gotten so much better because of all of your help!!!

I watch a ton of Cathe videos also to get ideas, so if the patterns look familiar, it is because of all of you, and Cathe, so thanks so much for all of the insight!

Here we go...

All patterns start right lead and can either be weaved together or repeated on the left.

Pattern One (first 16 counts)

• L-step, turn and straddle (explanation - on the left side of the bench, starting with the right foot, do one knee off the short end, one knee right leg, turn to the left, straddle the bench. With the right leg, do two repeater knees and then walk around the back of the bench.
• I cue it this way..... start with full L-steps right lead and then left. Tell your class that they are to hold the L-steps and you will show them the modification and then "come back for them". Show them the modification to the L-step, calling it "L-step, turn and straddle". Then cue the 2 knees, walk around the back of the bench. After a few times, they should have it down pretty well.

Then, move into the second half of pattern 1...

Pattern 1 (second 16 counts)

• Cathe calls this a figure 8...with a right lead, step up on the bench while turning left and walking away from the bench. On count 4, turn back to the right. Tell them to use their arms as a guide... When they are turning left, tell them to extend their arms out left, and then turning right, extend their right arm out...it really helps!!!!!
• Once they get the figure 8 down, do it once more and then cue them to go over the step, and walk around the front of the bench.

So the full pattern is this:

• L-step, turn and straddle
• 2 Knees on the right side
• Walk around the back
• Figure 8
• Over the top
• Walk around the front

Pattern 2:

• 1/2 And L-step to the left short end
• Go all the way over the top of the bench
• Instep corner to corner.... this is a Cathe move - on the short end of the bench, left foot steps on bench while you lift your right leg and touch the instep of the right foot, and then you step on the bench with your right foot and touch the instep of your left foot (you will naturally turn a little bit on the bench)
• 1/2 An L-step back "home"
• This next move is tricky -my students call it "freeway" - From the front of the bench, place your right foot on the bench,then your left foot, while you go over the step. You will be turning your rear end to the front of the room so you are facing the back wall. Repeat the movement, turning back to starting position. (sometimes this move is called turn into the bench)
• One knee to the front

So, pattern 2 is:

• 1/2 An L to the short end
• Over the top (long wise)
• Instep corner to corner
• 1/2 An L "home"
• Freeway
• 1 Knee to the front

Pattern 3:

• 6-count turn (This one can be tricky - place your right foot on the bench and go like you would a normal turnstep.... BUT, leave your left foot on the bench, step on the floor right foot, turn back home and jump two times with claps.)
• "Sail over the step and back" Place your right foot on the step like you are going to go over the top but go over and land on your left foot.
• Outer thigh, straddle, outer thigh
• Arabesque repeater (this is arabesque, done as a repeater, 3 times. Use starburst arms... (This one is so much fun, and is great to take around the world at the end of the workout to really get the heart rate up)

So, pattern 3 is:

• 6-count turn
• Sail over and back
• Outer thigh straddle, outer thigh
• Arabesque repeater

Pattern 4:

• Hamstrings around the world
• Corner to corner knees
• Instep, hamstring repeater (This is a fun one - step right foot on bench, touch the instep of the left foot, touch the heel of the left foot, then touch the instep of the left foot again, in repeater fashion)

Pattern 5:

• Turnstep
• K-step
• Over the top
• Reverse turn
• 2 Charlestons
• Knees half-way around the world

As mentioned before, I do the arabesque repeater around the world as the last pattern. SO MUCH FUN!!!!

I hope you have fun with this one. As they say, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, so if you recognize any moves that I may have "borrowed", then hopefully you feel flattered!!!!

To all of you who are new - keep going, it only gets better. The "regulars" in my classes now, are the ones who were the most frustrated with me when I first started. The best feeling as an instructor is when everyone is doing the moves together and then they start to hoot and holler! It is an amazing thing to bring fun into fitness for people..... The best advice I have ever received though, is "You are not there to entertain... you are there to teach. Don't just go up to the front of the room and show them how well you do the moves, break it down so they understand them, and the class will love you for it".....

< < Previous Step pattern - Next Step pattern > >

	Main page - Moves - Music - TBB - Wearables!
	Patterns: Disclaimer / Search / Stats / RSS / Add
	View patterns by month May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 November 1999 October 1999 September 1999 August 1999 July 1999 June 1999 May 1999 April 1999 March 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 September 1998 August 1998 July 1998 June 1998 May 1998 April 1998 March 1998 February 1998 January 1998 December 1997 November 1997 October 1997 September 1997 August 1997 July 1997 June 1997 May 1997 April 1997 March 1997 February 1997 January 1997 December 1996 November 1996 October 1996 September 1996 August 1996 July 1996 June 1996 May 1996 (earliest)	View patterns by type Body Sculpting Cycling BoxAerobics Stability Ball Step Hi/Lo (floor) Abs Quad Step Warmup/Cooldown Double Aquatic Funk Slide Other