Hoop dancing, an American Indian form of storytelling, has been around since the 1400s. They used small circular hoops, usually made of reeds, to create stylized dances incorporating rapid hoop movements to their weave stories. Modern hoop dance borrows elements of American Indian dance as well as elements of yoga and t'ai chi to create a playful workout routine. Though hula hooping may make you feel like a kid again, it's also an effective form of exercise.
Energy Expenditure
Hula hooping can assist you with your weight loss goals. You burn about 210 calories during a half hour of hula hooping. Participants in an American Council on Exercise study averaged 84 percent of their maximum heart rate during hula hooping, which indicates it is an effective calorie-burning exercise.
Technique
It starts with the basic hooping technique: with one foot in front of the other, push the hoop around your waist and then shift your weight back and forth from foot to foot. You can learn other techniques, including hoop dance, from hula hooping classes or videos. Group hooping can add an additional element of fun and is available at some fitness centers and studios. Some exercise studios specialize just in hooping. You can also learn the fluid moves of hoop dancing from a DVD at home.
Considerations
Start with a large hula hoop, which rotates more slowly. Select a hula hoop that reaches to your chest when you hold it on the floor in front of you. Once you have developed your hooping skills, you can move to a smaller hoop, which rotates faster to give you a more challenging workout. Or you may wish to consider a large, weighted hula hoop. The added weight increases resistance to help you burn more calories while hula hooping.
Other Benefits
Hula hooping helps improve your flexibility and promotes balance while strengthening and toning abdominal, back, arm and leg muscles. Hula hooping is low-impact, so it doesn't put a lot of stress on your joints. Some people find the rhythmic nature of hula hooping relaxing. You're more likely to engage in exercise when it's something you look forward to.
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