Hazel’s energized look.

Hula Hooping for Weight Loss

My granddaughter Hazel is an energizer bunny. She is always fully charged and raring to go.
After my recent hula hooping session I too felt super charged. Just like Hazel.
That’s why I’m adding hula hooping to my exercise regimen.

Hula Hooping in days of old.

I was 11 when the first hula hoop made its appearance.
I even remember the days when the verb “to hula hoop” didn’t exist.

Then all of a sudden this plastic hoop appeared and it was a sensation from the start.

Very popular from the late 50’s through the 70’s, hula hoping died out in the 80’s.

Hula Hooping Today

But today we are seeing a rebirth of hula hooping or hooping as it is now called and the resurgence is huge among adults. Many of those adults are like me and can remember spending hours as a child playing with a great toy.

Now Hula Hoops are no longer seen as toys but instead they are a great workout tool that promises health benefits to those same adults who enjoyed their hoops as kids.

So with that in mind, I decided to join a group of ladies in my area who meet weekly for a hula hooping session. Since I was concerned about back and knee issues I wanted to make sure I started slowly and that I had a proper hoop and not one that was too heavy or light for my needs. So with the group as my guide I decided to give it a try.

Hula Hoop Guidelines

Here are some guidelines from the Mayo Clinic noting that “An average woman can burn about 165 calories in 30 minutes of hula hooping.” And hooping offers a fun way to “help you meet your exercise goals and provide aerobic activity.”

“If you try a weighted hula hoop, use a hula hoop that’s the right size for you. The hoop should reach somewhere between your waist and midchest when it’s resting vertically on the ground. The weight of the hoop is up to you. The smaller and lighter the hoop, the more energy it takes to keep the hoop going. But the bigger and heavier the hoop, the easier it is to keep going, which means you may be able to do it for a longer period of time. You can experiment with different hoops to see which kind and size you prefer.”

Hula Hoop Benefits

I had already read about the health benefits of hula hooping so I wanted to see if incorporating it into my exercise regimen would be a good idea for me.

Here are some of the benefits listed on the Fit2Hoop website, a beginner’s guide to Hula Hooping.

1. Improves core strength
2. Improves balance and motor skills
3. Delivers a cardio-aerobic workout
4. Unwinds and realigns the spine
5. Accelerates fat burning and weight loss
6. Strengthens back muscles
7. Improves flexibility, posture and alignment
8. Promotes laughter
9. Boosts self-esteem and confidence
10. Helps overcome shyness
11. Relieves stress

Getting Charged

After my first hula hooping session I can vouch for the immediate results especially numbers 6 though 11. But the surprise came the next day.

Not only was I NOT sore or stiff but on the contrary my back felt more supple and flexible!
I was hooked!

And another benefit intrigued me. I felt especially clear headed and energized with an overall sense of well being. I felt “charged” so to speak. Hard to describe–but I was reminded of a lecture I’d once attended on the benefits of rebounding and how rebounding helped energize by cleansing the lymphatic system. So I went back to the web to see if there was a link between the lymphatic system and hula hooping.

What I found reaffirmed my suspicions. At Hooping.org, Rayna McInturf quotes KaRa Maria Ananda and cites some of the lymphatic benefits in her post: “Boost Your Immune System with Hooping”.

“The hoop provides a gentle, rhythmic massage that stimulates lymphatic flow resulting in increased circulation, cellular detox, weight loss, and increased immunity.
The lymphatic system is a primary part of our tri-fold circulatory system. It is responsible for waste collection, immunity, waste processing, and cell transport throughout the body.
Over 50% of our bodies(sic) lymphatic glands are in the belly, around the intestines. The next most concentrated area of lymphatic tissue is the sides of the chest, under the arms. Then there are lymphatic glands in the femoral or bikini area. Also around the neck, throat, and shoulders where the lymph drains into the body’s two main lymph ducts. It is perfect synchronicity that the lymphatic system may be wonderfully massaged by core hooping. … a regular hoop practice will help keep your lymphatic system functioning at it’s prime and keep sickness at bay!”

Wow! With all those health benefits what’s not to love about hula hooping? Now I have visions of learning new tricks with the hoop but even if I keep it simple I know it will be part of my exercise regimen in the future.

I just like the charge I get from it too much!

Give it a try and see if jumping on the Hooping bandwagon opens up new possibilities for you.