Hula Hooping – Not just for kids anymore!
The last time I hula hooped was about a year ago when I was a member of a group fitness studio down in Hobart before I moved back to Brisbane. Before that – I was probably in primary school.
When I first joined this fitness studio, I actually laughed in the face of the owner when she asked me to warm up by hula hooping for a few minutes before we got started. It was awkward. She wasn’t laughing with me and I honestly thought she was joking.
Typical Hobart, I thought, so behind the times in so many ways!
Disclaimer: I lived there for two years – I think that means I can make fun of it… It is a nice place though. Make sure you visit.
More to the point, the thought of me actually succeeding at this childs play was ridiculous. There is no way in hell I’m hula hooping, I told myself, It’s kids stuff, I’m the definition of un-coordinated, and I’ve not done it for years! And thusly I proceeded, unsuccessfully I might add, to attempt to get the hoop around me more than once.
Fast forward through three or four weeks of sighs, tantrums and hissy fits, I was becoming quite proficient at it. Just when I thought I had it all under control and my reputation of being the worst one in the class had been forgotten about, I was asked for the first time to do it in the opposite direction. Alas. Back to square one!
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed that it’s fast becoming the latest trend now! Why? Why are people digging through old belongings in the attic to find their long lost hoop of happiness? Why are there now weighted hoops? Are we all simultaneously going through some form of quarter/mid-life crisis which has seen us go back to our old schoolyard antics?
Retrospectively, I’m probably thinking about the aforementioned questions in a little too much detail. But here are 5 good reasons why hula hooping is good for you:
1) Improves flexibility
2) Improves co-ordination
3) Use with a weighted hoop is fun aerobic exercise for adults!
4) It activates your core muscles as well as your legs, butt and back and even your arms if you choose to use them too!
5) It’s a great low impact exercise for all ages
Our own range of 66fit Hula Hoops start off at 1.2kg, then 1.5kg and then a whopping 2kg. Check out our website for more information – or this youtube video.
If you’re a group fitness person – there may be a hula hooping group near you. I just did a quick search and found some places near me!
One of our customers let us know that she and her cul-de-sac crew get together every evening for a gossip and a hooping session! How cool is that? I imagine them to be like the cast of Cougar Town, only with hoops spinning around their waists and a glass of red wine in their hands playing Penny Can at the same time.
I’m probably wrong though – apart from that thought being completely unrealistic, hooping is really hard work. Especially with heavy hoops! That thought is probably more accurate of the way that I would participate with my cul-de-sac crew…
I hereby throw the challenge to you to give it a go and get back in touch with your inner child. Who knows – maybe one day we’ll see you on Cirque du Soleil like this young lady!