According to the website SpinningHoop.com, the hula hoop has been in use for hundreds of years, and has been used for cultural traditions, recreation and leisure. Apart from the obviously high fun factor of hula hooping, there are other compelling reasons for you to pick up a hoop and start gyrating. Proponents of hooping, including the American Council on Exercise, tout its potential health benefits.
Aerobic Fitness
Catherine Sharick, in a Sep. 25, 2009, article published on Time.com, writes, "An hour of intense hooping can burn as many calories as an hour-long run on a treadmill." Because hooping is a low-intensity cardiovascular exercise, your body burns fat to meet the activity's energy demands, which, in conjunction with a healthy, nutrient-rich diet, can result in you losing weight and improving your aerobic fitness. While hooping may not be your quickest route to peak aerobic fitness, "Anything that gets people off the couch and burning calories is a good thing," suggests Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise.
Spine & Joint Health
Jane Alexander, in a Sep. 1, 2009, article on the Telegraph.co.uk website, states that "Hooping is a gentle, low-impact workout that mobilises the spine." It's the rhythmic nature of hula hooping, specifically, that promotes increased segmental range of motion between your vertebrae and stimulates vertebral disc imbibition---the process through which nutrient exchange occurs in your discs. Regular spinal mobilization is important for your spinal joint health, and activities such as hooping can help improve your posture and promote increased body awareness---both of which are important in helping you avoid back injuries.
Core Strength
The rhythmic, oscillatory motion of hooping strengthens and tones your core muscles. Diana Defries, a London-based hula hooper and founder of Hoopswhirled---a hooping-related business offering classes, workshops and events---states that hooping works more than 30 cores muscles, and John Parnell, a hooping enthusiast, instructor and performer, suggests that "There is also a lot of anecdotal evidence that hooping helps strengthen the muscles surrounding your lower spine, just like Pilates, and this can be beneficial to anyone who has suffered from a bad back in the past.''
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