Hula Hooping for Fitness Gains in Popularity

If you thought hula hooping went out with the 1960’s, think again. Hula hooping is back and becoming more popular than ever.

Increasingly touted for its fitness benefits, hula hooping is a great core workout. From hooping classes to hooping “jam” sessions, more and more people are using hula hoops to get in shape.

The hula hoops of today are bigger and heavier than the ones our parents used, and are more suited for a workout. According to some, hula hooping is also suited for introspection. “It certainly builds your core strength, increases your energy, vitality and relieves stress,” says Dellinger. “But what most people find surprising is how meditative it is.”

People also hula hoop for the pure happiness it brings them. Jennifer Harlan, owner of Steamboat Springs-based HulaFool, starting hooping about eight years ago. “Hooping has brought me great joy. You can’t hoop with a frown,” she says. “When I’m having a bad day, I just step inside my hoop.”

Sound like fun? If you want to give hula hooping a whirl, the Denver Post tells you how to get started:

How to Hoop

Stand with one foot in front of the other. Hold the hoop against your back, slightly above the waist. Push the hoop around your waist, shifting your weight back and forth on your feet to keep the hoop moving. You might be tempted to move your hips in a circle with the hoop, but this actually makes hooping much harder. Try putting one foot in front of the other and shifting your weight back and forth from foot to foot. It’s less of a circular hip motion and more like a rocking or pumping motion. Right-handed people generally hoop counterclockwise, while lefties go clockwise. If you get frustrated with the hoop around your waist, try hooping with your arms or hands.