This is a stupid question- but can someone tell me what hi/lo is? If I had to guess, I'd say it is floor aerobics done with lots of arm movement, like the beginning stuff in Circuit Max. Is this right? Jacks, kicks, etc? :-hmmm
I don't have an answer for you. I just wanted you to know that I don't think it's a stupid question at all.
If I had to guess, I would guess it's a mixture of high impact and low impact but if I'm right, I don't know why it seems like it's always referring to floor aerobics. It seems like it would be a good description for step aerobics also.
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Apr-16-02 AT 12:55PM (Est)[/font][p]Hi/Lo is just another name for floor aerobics or dance aerobics. It is not using a step. Step aerobics uses a step (of course;-)) Hi/Lo can be either high OR low impact, or a combo of both such as kicks, knees up, jax, cha-cha's, hustles, grapevines or a zillion other moves. Arm movements are choreographed into Hi/Lo aerobics. Hope this helps.
High impact refers to movements that involve your feet coming off the ground (or step). Hence, when you come back down, there is "high impact" on your body (for example feet and knees). Jumping jacks or jogging are an example of high impact moves.
Low impact is when at least one foot stays on the ground at all times and your body doesn't get that shock from coming back down out of the air. Examples include grapevines or side touches.
Moves can be modified to be both. Think of knees up: YOu can keep on foot on the ground while the other knee comes up. Or you can do a little lift with that foot (while the other knee comes up).
Hi lo is definately not a mere question of arm use. Hi and lo do refer to impact. Step aerobics can be high or low impact depending on whether both feet come in the air. It just so happens that when someone says hi/lo, they are typically referring to floor aerobics, which does tend to involve more arm choreography.
Let's review:
Hi impact: two feet off the ground at once
Low impact: one foot grounded
Floor aerobics: on the floor
Step aerobics: uses the step
Either step or floor can be high or low impact.
However, people tend to say "hi/lo" when talking about floor aerobics.
Hi/Lo describes the impact, either Hi or Low. Actually, Hi/Lo aerobics can be done without arm movements. When teaching, I always tell my NEW students to get the footwork down first and then when they feel confident, add the arms. Hi/Lo used to be called just plain old aerobics years ago, but with the introduction of step, kickbox, ect. I think the name Hi/Lo was introduced to specify FLOOR aerobics. Am I confusing you more!!??
Like Jeanne said, the Hi/Lo stands for the amount of impact.
Using BIG arm movements can intensify a low impact workout to get the heart rate up higher. Maybe that is what is confusing about the arm, foot thing???