By:
Lisa Zeigel
Last month I wrote about jumping, an activity we did for fun as kids, and we can now do as adults for exercise. This month I am writing about the latest fitness craze that started as a childhood game, but has come “full circle,” so to speak, as we adults look to kids’ activities for new ways to make exercise fun. “Hooping “ is now a hugely popular activity that is a great way to exercise to get fit, toned, relieve stress, and more. It can also be viewed as a form of entertainment as you can see “hoopers” performing elaborate tricks and routines on talk shows/variety shows, and of course on YouTube.
The use of hoops dates back indefinitely; no one knows who invented it or how. There is evidence, however, that hoops were used as a form of physical activity dating back as early as the time of the ancient Greeks as noted in an entry in the online Encyclopedia Britannica:
“Hoop – toy: circular toy adaptable to many games, children’s and adults’, probably the most ubiquitous of the world’s toys, after the ball. The ancient Greeks advocated hoop rolling as a beneficial exercise for those not very strong. It was also used as a toy by both Greek and Roman children, as graphic representations indicate. Most of these ancient hoops were made of metal. Later hoops were made of wood, though occasionally fitted with metal tires, as in the hoop-rolling-fad days of 19th-century England and the United States.”1
The addition of the word “hula” apparently came about when British sailors observed the movements of hula dancers in Hawaii and noted they looked similar to the hoopers at home. The name “Hula Hoop®” was patented by an enterprising pair of inventors who started their own toy company in Los Angeles in the late ‘40s (the famous “Wham-O” toys).
So we know the hoop has a long history behind it and has been used in various ways as an exercise tool. What has caused this recent surge in its popularity? Perhaps just like fashion, fitness trends come and go, and then come back. In any case, it has taken on a new edge as “core training” has come to the forefront in the world of fitness. The act of rotating the hoop around your mid-section entails a coordinated effort between the core muscle groups – in correct anatomical terms these are: rectus abdominis, the internal and external obliques, and the transversus abdominis. There are other muscles involved to a lesser extent but are no less important to the basic movement used to turn the hoop around the waist, including muscles of the spine and hip. In addition to being a good way to tone these muscles, hooping is great conditioning for the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex (the lower back, pelvis, and hip joints). The sacroiliac joint resides between the bottom of the lumbar spine and the top of the pelvis. To maintain a healthy spine, this joint needs to function optimally as your upper and lower body moves in different directions, and hooping is just the thing to encourage this. In this way, hooping can help prevent or even alleviate minor lower-back pain (however, if you do have back pain, check with a physician before attempting this to avoid aggravating your condition).
Another one of hooping’s many health benefits includes the challenge of learning a new motor skill for beginners. Many people are afraid of trying to start it because they feel they are not coordinated enough, or they get frustrated and give up because they cannot keep the hoop up for long before dropping it. However, it just takes practice and time for the neuro-muscular connection to be trained. Just like riding a bike or learning how to swim, you will “get it” if you keep at it, after which it will become a hard-wired skill that you will never forget.
After you master the basic movement, the possibilities are endless! Hoops can be spun around the arms, the legs, on a single leg, on the arms while you jump, run, twirl, and more. Several hoops can be spun at once - - in fact, the record for the most hoops to be spun at once is a hotly contested one. Currently it stands at 105 in 2007. Hooping can be made more challenging by using heavier tubing. Hoops can also be used as tools for strength training (i.e. doing squats, or special exercises for arm and shoulder strengthening), and are being incorporated into yoga and Pilates classes.
With devotees claiming to lose inches, gaining strength and endurance and confidence, and enjoying the fun and camaraderie that go along with it, groups of hooping enthusiasts are flourishing throughout the world, with many taking great pride in making their own hoops. Decorating them with colorful ribbons of tape and LED lights, and with sparkles and rattles inside, they make for a visually and audibly spectacular display when large groups get together and hoop all at once. There is even a “World Hoop Day” coming up on Sept. 9, 2009, with events, classes, and “hoop-a-thons” being held everywhere. To learn how to get started, there are, of course, many, many Web sites to choose from for more information and resources. A couple of the best I have found are: www.hooping.org, or www.fitnesshooping.com. You may be trying it for the fun of it, but you’ll want to keep doing it for the serious fitness results!
1http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/271356/hoop
Lisa Zeigel is a personal trainer and a group exercise instructor who has been involved in health and fitness for more than 20 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, and is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a health and fitness instructor and as a National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer. She has created unique wellness education programs and has taught healthy lifestyle classes for her local community. Currently, Lisa works with all types of clients and particularly likes to focus on new and returning exercisers, combining cutting-edge techniques with the tried-and-true. Most of all, she strives to make exercising fun and easy to integrate into each individual’s lifestyle. You can contact Lisa at fitgrrl@operamail.com.