Hello Hula!

Hmmm... see, all in the hips!

So out of sheer chance, I was standing in the checkout cue and like a giant halo, I saw her. My new Hula Hoop.

I have not hula hooped since... well school probably. On Saturday I spent about an hour testing it out. Trying to count how many ‘hip swings’ I could do before I lost it and the hoop fell to my ankles and I gave up. Or at least I got too hot. *Note: Hooping in 32 degrees is a bad idea.

Anyway! When I awoke on Sunday morning I felt stiff. My stomach muscles were ouch and so was my back and a couple more areas that do not need to be listed. I realised it was the glorious hoop! So I’ve been doing some research and it is actually very good for you. Not only is it loads of fun, it also strengthens your core and has loads of other benefits! yes here are some points:

Physical Benefits:

• Build core strength
• Tone your entire body
• Gain an intense cardiovascular workout
• Enjoy low impact physical activity
• Increase energy
• Develop balance and co-ordination
• Increase flexibility
• Lose weight after pregnancy, or at any other time

Mental/Emotional Benefits:

• Clear and quiet your mind
• Reduce stress
• Improve self confidence
• Generate joy and laughter (expect a lot)
• Improve your mood
• Open up creative self expression

If you do not know, A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck... Come now! There are also plenty of records for hooping. Recently in April 2010, 70 hoopers on Team Hooprama hula hooped the Music City Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) to raise awareness and funds for Hooping for Hope. Nice.

Also there is a little subculture called Hooping where artistic movement and dancing with hoops is done. I even found a workout guide called Hoopnotic Hoopdance... A-bla-bler tongue twisting!

So I’m going to try Hoop everyday and see how it goes. Do you know how to hula? 

How to Hula:

Difficulty: 

• Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:  

• Hula Hoop 
• A large area *out of the way of breakables
• A sense of humor

Instructions:

•  Put hula hoop on floor.
• Step into it (with both feet).
• Bring it up to just below your waist.
• Hold it with both hands and pull it forward so that it's resting against your back.
• With both hands, fling the hoop to the left so that its inner edge rolls in a circle around your body. Do this a few times so that you get the feel of it.
• Leave the hula hoop on the ground for a few minutes and practice your hip movements: (this is when if you’re like me you’ll be laughing so much because you KNOW you look like a spaz!) Leaving your feet firmly planted about shoulder width apart, circle your pelvis (yes, just like Elvis!): left, back, right, forward. Do this a few times till you get the feel of it.
• Put the movements together: As you fling the hoop to the left, bring your hips left to meet the hoop and then rotate them back and to the right and forward so that your hips are following the rotation of the hoop.
• Keep the hoop going around your hips as long as you can. When it falls to the ground (as it inevitably will!) pick it up and try again.

Tip: try it alone the first time... Trust me... People will laugh!

Xoxo

PS. Swing it ladies!

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