To tone up, get in the ‘hoop’
The hula hoop is making a comeback as a fun exercise tool
Who knew that the plastic childhood toy and circus prop popular 50 years ago could whittle your waist? And now the hula hoop is making a comeback on social media — and reinventing itself as a super cool exercise tool. Weighted hula hoops have emerged as a social media favourite during the pandemic, enticing fitness enthusiasts looking for new, affordable and convenient ways to work out at home.
The art of hula hooping has been adopted by celebrities like Beyoncé, Zooey Deschanel, Shruti Hassan, Sara Ali Khan, Adah Sharma, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michelle Obama as a fitness routine. It has numerous health benefits, ranging from a smaller waistline to firm skin and a flat belly.
The hula hoop often transports people back to when they were young. But it is also a really flexible piece of kit, says Diksha Rathi, Yoga & Pilate expert at Fitza.
“When it comes to exercise, finding something you enjoy is key to making physical activity a regular part of your routine. When a workout is fun and you look forward to doing it, you’re more likely to stick with it. Hula hooping is one such popular pastime as it is inexpensive, portable, and is a solo as well as socially engaging physical exercise which is a lot of fun,” says Diksha.
‘Hula fit’ classes are taking off in the UK and LA. As per studies, women using a weighted hoop lost on average 3.4 cm from their waist and 1.4 cm from their hips in just 6 weeks.
“Hula hooping if included in your daily routine may help you burn calories, shed fat, improve posture, boost circulation, improve balance, and tone your muscles for a slim waist,” says Zaineb Ali, Certified Pilates instructor.
SWING IN A STEADY RHYTHM
“The rhythmic rocking movements forward and backward, shifting your weight along the way, releases the tension of the muscles surrounding the lower part of the back and realigns it with the rest of the spine. As a result, blood flow to the spine improves and total flexibility of the spine is increased.
Also, it takes a certain level of concentration for hula hooping,
which trains your mind as well,” says Zaineb.
STRENGTHENS ABDOMINAL AND BACK MUSCLES
Like skipping, hula hooping can torch calories and help you build those allimportant core muscles. “Practising it regularly can be an excellent way to strengthen your abdominal and hip muscles,” says Diksha.
Calorie burning with the hula hoop is similar to that of aerobic dances such as salsa or belly dance — up to 400 calories per hour.
REDUCES FAT AROUND YOUR WAIST AND HIPS
According to a study, 6 weeks of weighted hula hooping can reduce an average of 3.4 centimetres (1.3 inches) from the waistline and 1.4 centimetres (0.6 inches) from the hips.
INCREASES CORE MUSCLE MASS
Since it requires activation of muscles in the core to keep the hoop twirling around the hips, the midsection muscles could be strengthened.
DECREASES LDL (BAD) CHOLESTEROL
Hula hooping has the potential to improve cholesterol levels.
Yoga & Pilate Expert at Fitza
WHEN A WORKOUT IS FUN AND YOU LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT, YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO STICK WITH IT. HULA HOOPING IS ONE SUCH POPULAR PASTIME AS IT IS INEXPENSIVE, PORTABLE, AND IS A SOLO AS WELL AS SOCIALLY ENGAGING PHYSICAL EXERCISE WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN
— DIKSHA RATHI,