The Hula-Hoop began as a children's toy in the United States, but is now coming full circle to redeem its ancient fitness heritage as an aerobic activity and hard-core toning tool. Choose the right hoop for your height, learn the basic movement, and you can hoop away inches of fat off your stomach and waist areas.
History
Hoops used as toys and fitness equipment date as far back as ancient Egypt and Greece, notes Rewind the Fifties. These early cultures created hoops from grapevines and swung them around their waists. In 1958, the Wham-O toy company released the modern Hula-Hoop, named after the activity's similarity to Hawaiian hula dancing. Within two years of production, Wham-O sold more than 2 million plastic hoop toys. Hoops are making a comeback in modern gyms, school physical education classes and home exercise routines.
Function
The Hula-Hoop's major benefit is as an aerobic exercise tool, but the circular motion of your torso and hips will also tighten your trunk muscles, says WomenFitness.net. Hula-Hooping forces your body to maintain a circular motion, unlike most exercises which rely on linear movements. The basic hoop activity, similar to original hula dancing, targets muscles in your abs, hips, waist, upper thighs and butt. WomenFitness.net also notes that hooping for only 10 minutes each day can chop up to 2 inches off your waist within the first month.
Considerations
With hoops, one size does not fit all. Choose your hoop specifically for your height and exercise needs, recommends MayoClinic.com. Place the hoop vertically with one end resting on the ground. The top of the hoop should hit you mid-torso --- between the top of your waist and your chest. Lightweight hoops, like the 50s toy, require the most energy to keep in motion. Using a heavier, weighted-hoop is easier to keep moving, but also allows you to keep the aerobic exercise going longer.
Exercises
Begin with a basic Hula-Hoop motion. Step into the hoop, pull it up to waist level, and pull it forward until it presses against your back. Place one foot slightly in front of the other one. Use your hands to propel the hoop around your waist in a circular motion. Keep the hoop in motion by shifting your weight from one foot to the other, causing your hips to swing around in a circle. It will take practice to get the basic motion down.
Misconceptions
Crunches and ab-specific exercises often receive credit for slim stomachs, but the flat belly requires more than targeted abdominal exercises, says WomenFitness.net. You can have hard, strong abdominal muscles, but unless you get rid of the fat layer on top, you won't be able to see them. Toning muscles is part of an equation, but you need to do aerobic exercise to burn excess fat from all over your body. Traditional ab exercise routines require you to add in 30-minute-sessions of aerobic exercise several times each week, but hooping combines the aerobic workout you need to shed fat and the targeted toning you need to tighten those abs.
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