A nice escape from my apartment
I just did this workout for the first time today and I'm quite impressed. This is a low impact workout, for while the knees are bent for most of the time, there is no jumping except a few little hops that can be totally modified or even left out. Low impact of course does not mean low intensity. The steps were easy to follow but not so simple that I won't have to do this a few times to get all the legs and arms coordinated. The combination was put together so methodically that by the time you're asked to bring it up to speed, there is little chance of being completely lost. I also want to mention how surprising I found it that simply adding hip sways (or upward figure 8s as I think of them) to the steps increases the difficulty and intensity nearly twofold.
I really enjoyed the production values here. Kili and her two friends lead practice in Hula steps in combination on a platform outside in the sun in Hawaii, and instead of an overly calm voiceover, Kili calls the cues in real time, often having to project over the wind. It's a very nice departure from the canned effect that even the best fitness DVDs can get in a studio. I've seen it mentioned that Kili has a squeaky voice, and I must disagree. She simply has a higher timbre of voice, which is a little at odds with how incredibly buff she looks. All three of these women could probably snap me in half. (My theory is that they are surfers, which would explain their ridiculous upper body definition) I only mention this aspect because some people are more affected by the voice or appearance of the instructor. The music is pleasant and dominated by a drumbeat. This is a fun, refreshing (but still really exhausting) workout, and I'm really glad that I purchased it.
