8 Fun-Filled Hula Hoop Exercises for Better Fitness

In 1958 WHAM-O introduced the world to a new toy after Arthur Melin and Richard Knerr  observed children in Australia playing with bamboo hoops in their exercise class. Upon their return to the States they took what they had seen and invented  the plastic hoop, what we now know as the Hula Hoop. What started out as a fad in the late 1950’s for kids has now turned into a fitness frenzy 53 years later.  And if you don’t believe swirling your hips can burn calories and tone your body, think again.

Researchers at the Exercise and Health Program at  University of Wisconsin, La Crosse led  by Jordan Holthusen, M.S. and John Porcari, Ph.D conducted a  study of 16 advanced to intermediate female hoopers.  And to their amazement, hula hooping expended similar calorie rates and raised heart rates similar to cardio kickboxing, step aerobics and boot camp classes.  Although the researchers state that more studies need to be done to determine what the long-term fitness benefits to hooping will bring, one thing is for certain, when we have fun doing an activity we are more likely to participate in it. I always say something always trumps nothing, especially when it comes to exercise.

And some fitness experts have taken Hula Hooping one step further by combining hooping and Pilates forming a new type of workout called Hoopilates.

Below are a few tips on choosing the right hoop for you.