Astride Approach in Step Aerobics

"The fourth approach to the bench is from a stride. We call it from a stride. It actually means that your feet are astride the bench or on each side of the bench. Again, our combinations or choreography will take an end approach straddling down with an astride approach or just stepping up into what we call a straddle up. Again, the movements are four counts. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or leading with the other foot, stepping up, one, two, three, four. Or, perhaps, a movement where we move forward where our feet are astride and back. We want to increase the intensity by movement up and around the bench, up and over the bench, and also using our floor space as well. If we just stay in one little spot, our heart rate's not going to go up and this is a cardio-vascular workout so I want to use as much space around the bench as I can and as many approaches to the bench as possible."