Who would have ever thought that a big plastic tube that was
once popular many, many years ago would become one of the most popular forms of exercise and fitness in America and Europe today? It’s the hula-hoop, transformed from a toy into a fitness routine that targets your core muscles, tones your tummy and gets your circulation pumping.
It’s a workout that’s easy. Using a hula-hoop for just 5 minutes a day can seriously improve your cardio quota. If your gym has jumped on the band-wagon and is offering classes, you can look forward to building strength and flexibility, all while having more fun than you could ever have on a treadmill.
Most importantly of all, it can be done in the comfort of your home at any time during the day. If you have a history of back problems, check with your health care provider first.
Hula-hooping is one of the few fitness regiments that primarily targets your middle. With circular trunk movements, it directly works abdominal muscles, hips and waistlines. In fact, 1 minute of hula-hooping burns as many calories as running an eight-minute mile or high impact aerobic class, according to a Cooper Institute study, (a health-based, non-profit research and education center).
Additionally, hula-hooping promotes correct body alignment from the circular motions and proper posture in the upper body routines.
Along with the physical benefits, hula-hooping provides a meditative benefit as well, it can be incredibly calming. The concentration required to do it, coupled with the constant circling gives it a meditational quality that helps relieve stress and revive the spirits. It also gives you a place for free expression and to just be yourself.
The basic rule is the faster you hoop, the more you are challenging your cardiovascular endurance. The more slowly you hoop, the more control you must exert, and the greater the resistance. It is truly an exercise that you can control using the hoop as a tool to customize your own workout needs.
Many women as well as men are looking for a fun and interesting way to spice up their workout routines and there is no better way than shaking around a hula-hoop for 60 minutes. Pick up a regular hoop from your local sporting goods retailer or you can purchase weighted hoops, which ramp up the workout and speed weight loss.
For more information see: The Washington Post and Hooping.org Magazine
