A Hula-Hoop isn't just a child's toy, it's a viable workout tool. Many adults have returned to their favorite plastic hoop to shed calories and tone up their core. When choosing a hoop, it is important to know the differences among them. One of the most common differentiating factors is found in weighted vs. nonweighted hoops.
Aerobic
Aerobic exercise is one of the largest and most sought-after benefits of Hula-Hoops. The constant movement and muscle contractions raise your heart rate. The elevated heart rate places your body in ideal fat burning mode through cardiovascular exercise. The difference between weighted and unweighted hoops in aerobic exercise is an argument of duration vs. intensity. A lighter hoop requires more rotations and faster movement, elevating your heart rate and burning more calories. A weighted hoop is easier to hoop with, allowing you to hoop longer. The weighted hoop, however, requires less movement to keep up, thus your heart rate will not reach the level it does with a light hoop.
Resistance
Some believe that a heavier hoop will provide more resistance as it pulls against the body and in turn, provide a more vigorous workout. It is true that a Hula-Hoop can help tone your core, but it does not come from the resistance of the hoop. The core workout benefits derive from the isometric contraction of your core muscles, which constantly flex while hooping. Adding weight to a hoop will have insignificant effects on your core training.
Considerations
The key difference between weighted hoops and nonweighted hoops is ease of use. Lighter hoops and weighted hoops can burn calories and both provide excellent core strength training. According to professional hoop instructors Dayna MacMillan and Megan Bovington in Seattle, Washington, which hoop you pick depends on your fitness preference and your hooping skill level. Those who want more intense, quick workouts should choose a lighter hoop. Those who want a less-intense longer workout should choose a weighted hoop. Less-experienced users may want to start with a weighted hoop to establish good technique before moving to a lighter hoop.
Sizing
The discussion between weighted and nonweighted hoops does not take into account size. In general, a hoop should reach somewhere between your waist and your chest when stood on end. Hoop size can differentiate workout types in the same way that weight can. In general, smaller hoops provide faster, more intense workouts and are harder to use. Larger hoops are easier to use and allow for longer hooping sessions at lower intensities. The bottom line is to choose a hoop you are comfortable using.
References
- Dayna MacMillan, Megan Bovington; Emerald City Hoopers; Seattle, Washington
- Hooping.org: Weighted Hoops: The Great Weight Debate!
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