Cathe Live Review: Halloween Hocus Pocus (#320)
Halloween Hocus Pocus is an express cardio and upper body strength workout. This is a very short and pretty easy workout that would be good as an add-on or for a lighter day. The workout is themed around the Halloween movie - Hocus Pocus. So Cathe and crew are decked out in costume and the set has a big “I put a spell on you” sign in the background with cobwebs, a cauldron, balloons and black cats etc – all very amusing. For this routine Cathe is joined by Jen and Nancy, from her Live classes, who play Cathe’s ‘sisters’ from the movie. Cathe keeps in character all the way through, making references to the film and using her spell book for inspiration on exercises. They even use broomsticks for the warm-up and some of the cardio moves!
The workout consists of alternating cardio intervals with upper body exercises. None of the moves are that high rep and Cathe uses only 10 pound dumbbells throughout. Given the pace, it would definitely be possible to go heavier, if you wanted to. This would also to help increase the intensity a little bit, however given that the workout is only 28 minutes, it’s definitely not going to be that intense either way. As I did another one of Sydney Cummings excellent upper body heavy strength workouts yesterday (40 Minute Arms & Abs AMRAP – review coming soon), I decided to stay with the same weights today but could easily have used heavier.
The cardio moves are a mix of lower and higher impact moves but none are really high intensity. Many of the moves also use the broomstick but you can always use a resistance band (doubled up & held tight between the hands) or just do them without equipment, if you don’t have one. None of them are hiit level and they barely got my heart rate up at all.
The upper body exercises are an interesting mix of different moves and are mainly combinations of a few moves put together, which seems to be Cathe’s preferred mode in the last few workouts. I really like this format, as it keeps it really interesting and engaging. The reps vary between the different exercises but none were high enough to be really challenging with the lighter weights. The workout is not that comprehensive so doesn’t hit every muscle group but I guess it’s more of a fun routine than anything else. I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t longer and more intense, although I guess as they all have to wear masks this may be more challenging for them to do. However, if I compare it to last year’s Halloween workout that one wasn’t definitely much better – Spooktacular Boo-tcamp #271 – review HERE.
For the final two moves, Cathe and crew consult her spell book again and once these are complete they go over to the cauldron. They then dance around a little and that is the end of the workout. What happened to the stretch I have no idea?! Cathe signs off and that’s it – so I added a stretch on the end.
Overall, a quick, lower intensity, cardio and upper body strength workout that’s Halloween themed. Probably not one I would return to though even though I liked the upper body moves.
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The Workout
Halloween Hocus Pocus is an express cardio and upper body strength workout that alternates cardio intervals with strength exercises for the upper body.
What You Need to Know
(Rating scale – 1= lowest & 5 = highest).
The Moves
Halloween Hocus Pocus is 28 minutes long and originally aired on 29th October (#320). The workout starts with a 4:30 minute warm-up, before a quick water break and then moving into the first cardio interval. Cathe used a broomstick for the warm-up. Cardio intervals shown in bold italics below.
“Scoop the potion out of the pot” (line taps w/ sweeping arms) – 32 reps
Hammer curl (hold at top & rotate arms out) / Arnold press / hinge & bicep curl – two 10# Dbs – 9 sets
“Salem halo slams” – 27 reps
Curl press / overhead tricep extension – two 10# Dbs – 11 sets
“Broom jacks” (pushing broom overhead as you jack) – broomstick – 42 reps
Alternating 1 arm front raise / hip hinge & rear delt fly – two 10# Dbs – 4 sets
“Black cat attacks” (attacks (squat jumps) slamming arms up & down or side to side) – broomstick – 32 reps
Hip hinge & 6 tricep kickbacks / 7 upright rows / 1 shrug – two 10# Dbs – 12 sets
“Sister twisters” (twist travels – side to side) – broomstick – 12 sets
Single leg deadlift & 2x W curls – two 10# Dbs – 5 sets each side
W curls (you go straight into these from the above exercise) – two 10# Dbs – 9 reps
“Black flame candle shoots” (straight high jumps) – 25 reps
Arm combo – Shrug / hammer curl to shoulders / open arms out to sides (palms facing forward) & overhead press – two 10# Dbs – 14 sets
“Grave diggers” (dig & shovel to 1 side) – broomstick – 12 reps (1st side) & 16 reps (2nd side)
Standing side bends – two 10# Dbs (I used 1x20) – 20 reps each side
“Hocus Pocus hop squats” – 32 reps
1 Arm row – two 10# Dbs (I used 1x20) – 16 reps each side
The workout does not include a cool down and stretch so added my own on the end.
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If you liked this workout, check out my review of Cathe Live: Breathless Upper Body (#226) – HERE.
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Loved this short cardio upper body workout. Loved that they cosplayed it too. Much fun. I used one 3lb dumbbell for the broomstick exercises. I did add chest flys, chest press, push ups and pull overs to make it complete for me. Great workout.
Absolutely too much fun! Im impressed that Cathe and crew stayed in character throughout the whole work out!
My Modifications: I used a weighted body bar for the Non Cardio broom stick moves and it made a difference. For a broomstick, I used my old Firm Mansion Nancy Tucker dowel. It was perfect!