Customer Reviews

Hula Workout: Weight Loss

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought this DVD to add variety to my workout routine. I am a grandparent, overweight, and now working out regularly for health reasons. I really like dance routine based exercise for working out at home, or while travelling. I became interested in this DVD for its "new slant" on an old idea.

This one is a welcome change. I read from other reviewers that it may not be authentic hula. However, I think the instructor has made appropriate modifications to make sure the routine has an aerobic component. All dance instructors I have encountered do this. She also warns against overwork for beginners, and suggests modifications. She covers all the bases.

It's fun also to be transported to Hawaii for a few minutes in the great photography, and also in the contemporary Hawaiian music.

I found this a very fresh approach and a worthwhile purchase. Highly recommended.

It comes in 5.1 surround sound & just her at the beach. It has chapter choices, bonus features of her dancing an authentic dance & trailer for her Hula workout: beginnerseight DVD.

Most of the moves were authentic, such as the Kaholo (walking bellydance vertical figure 8), Ka'o (bellydance vertical figure 8), 'uniu (bellydance outward figure 8), hela (leg forward/back), 'uwehe (knees together & spread them), ami (small hip circle), kawelu (step forward w/half figure 8).

She's in great shape, good cleear voice, seemed nice & straight forward no small talk except to give her many good cues. She teaches the step first in it's most simple/bare bones in 1/2 time, then slowly speeds it up & then building up the hips, then the arms to it's graceful finish. The music seems like a fusion of native Hawaiian & american country twang, not bad, decent beat simple, not too fast.

The bad part that everyone hates is the dance routine you learn tells a story like all hula do & this one is a 60s american music style, called "Hula Sunshine"& Rockette style kicks added in. This is only about 15% of the dance, but kinda kills it a bit. Luckily the song only plays at the end. Otherwise I'd give it 5 stars.

After a 4 min intro including seeing the dance of what you will learn, is a 5 min warm up with some basic stretching & also learning some of the basic steps like the Kaholo & K'ao until your hips turn to stone ;-) It ends with a 5 min cooldown w/some yoga poses & back stretches & other muscles stretched for a full 38 min.

Her new "Island Girl" hula workouts are more authentic. Just like her other ones, you get a great workout, your abs burn, your hips, legs get a nice workout. It's all authentic dance moves with some added quick squats, etc. added in so you barely notice it for adding toning. The authentic drum Hawaiian music is beautiful & does keep you stimulted too keep going just like a dance/rock beat would.

I had no trouble following & learning the steps, there are plenty of dance DVDs that I have had trouble with, but she breaks everything down well & shows it slowly several times before speeding it up. She even cues YOUR left & right, not hers.

There's a trailer for her "Hula Workout" DVDs & another authentic Hula workout like this called "Island Girl: Hula Abs & Buns" at collagevideo.com

One positive about this video is that it got my heart rate up... mostly due to frustration from incomplete instructions on how to do the moves, poor transitions, and a pace too quick given former problems. The instructor seems to be in her own world with little regard for the fact that people are watching the video. There is no slower breakdown of a series of movements before a gradual progression to full tempo, and she throws in moves and variations with little or no warning to the viewer. (For instance, during one of the moves, she starts migrating forwards and backwards with no explanation.) Then, sometimes the verbal cues occur after she's already executed a move. Also, unlike the excellently produced Bellydancing tapes by Veena and Neena Bidasha, this instructor does not separate the arm movements from the legs movements, later inviting the viewer to add the arms movements at will. She'll say something like,"Extend the left arm, extend the right arm, lift those hands to the sun" or "feel free to add those arms." She never says how to extend the arms (with a turn of the wrist for instance) or which arm movements would be appropriate for you to "feel free to add", so you're already following the poor verbal cues and just putting your hands out there like you're doing the hokey pokey. Then you see her gracefully turning her wrists and arms to the music with arm movements which were never taught. Yet another bad thing about this video is the tone of the instructor. At one point she says, "Let's go through the entire routine...from the tippety-top" and "Smile!" I suppose there's nothing wrong with a fitness instructor telling viewers to smile, but by that time I was I was ready to eject the tape.

I tried this tape once and got nothing even remotely resembling a workout, because the entire time I was standing in one spot, halfheartedly swaying my hips while scratching my head in bewilderment (simultaneously!).

Note to the makers of this video: Next time, it *might* be a good idea to actually show the lower half of the instructor's body. Some of us weren't taught hula in the womb, and need to be, I don't know - instructed, perhaps?

This video is really bad.

I was very excited to get this video since the same company made a very enjoyable bellydance series. But this was nothing but a let down. It was difficult to follow the instructor and the music resembled that of a hillbilly ho-down. The moves are presented quickly with no practice move or smooth transition into the next move. With practice it would probably get easier. However, with the annoying music, it's difficult to make it through the video once! The ultimate goal of the video, as defined by the instructor, is to be able to perform the "sunshine hula" dance which looks like it should be the official state dance of Arkansas instead of Hawaii. I would skip this video and just buy one of the belly dance ones. They use a lot of the same moves but the belly dance one is easier to follow and has better music.

I was expecting more of the traditional style of hula dancing. But it is an aerobic workout with little hula influence. It is still a good and fun workout. I do this in the morning and it is perfect workout to wake me up. It might take several times to follow all the movements.
Only complaint is that the camera shoots so close up. I want to see the instructor's entire body to see what she is doing!!

While Hula for Weight Loss will certainly take some practice, I think it's a great way to work out. There are certain components that are a little tough to follow such as camera angle (gosh I wish I could see her entire body as she does this step) but that is a "problem" of most workout videos.
Hula for Weight Loss, however, features beautiful scenery and the instructor is in great shape, has a pleasing voice and is reassuring.
I think the video offers a great alternative for exercisers who want variety.

The format of this workout is very hard to follow. All of the instructions are done via voice over, and therefore some of the cues come after the motion has ever started. Before the hula workout begins, she does the whole thing as an example, but never again demonstrates a move before you do it. It is very hard to follow. It is an easy workout, for those who are just starting a workout routine, but I suggest watching the video a few times before actually doing it, so you can know what to expect.

You don't need to learn the hula in the womb to feel good about this video! I absolutely loved this workout! I am no dancer but I was able to catch on to the hula workout after about two or three times I watched it, which does not deviate from the normal amount of time it takes for me to learn a new aerobic workout. Plus, the slow hip movements are sensual and help me maintain my flexibilty! Eeeehaa!!! I highly recommend this fantastic workout!

I will admit when I first did this workout, I was a little put off--I couldn't quite keep up. However, after having done it 3 times, IT DOES GET BETTER. You have to have a little patience-as with many workouts, it does take a little bit to learn the coreography.

I like this because I have knee problems, but I can do this workout without feeling it in my knees the next day. You will feel it in your hips.