The Origin of Hula Hoops
Hula hooping is a fun activity if you can actually do it. Kids have long loved swinging the plastic hoops around their midsections, although many adults have been known to attempt to use the hip twisting toy as well. This colorful toy that provides a great workout has a history that includes Olympians and sailors.
History
The toy company Wham-O trademarked the name "Hula Hoop" back in the late 1950s. However, the act of twirling a hoop around the waist or hips was performed centuries before that. Greeks used hooping as a form of exercise practiced to lose weight as far back as 1000 B.C. Hooping caught on in the 1300s in Great Britain, when children would play with homemade hoops. British soldiers later related the way kids swung the hoops around their middles with the hula dancing they witnessed on the Hawaiian Islands and coined the term "hula hooping."
Function
Hula hoops are used by placing the large, plastic hoop over your head or stepping into it and pulling it up around your middle. The hoop is then grasped with both hands, equidistant apart from each other and spun around the waist and hip area. The hips are then rocked and twisted in a motion that keeps the hoop spinning around the body. Hula hoops are sometimes spun around other body parts, such as the neck or arm.
Types
Patented Wham-O brand hula hoops are made of brightly colored plastic and come in three graduated sizes. The hollow plastic hoops contain a small ball that whirls around as you hoop, making a distinctive whooshing sound that will take many folks back to their childhoods. The brand also sells a folding portable hoop. Weighted hoops, often called "Sports Hoops," are available in different levels of heaviness and are usually used for adult fitness.
Benefits
Hula hooping is a great physical workout. Hooping tones the body, exercising those ultra-important core muscles and whittling away the waist. The movements used to spin the hoop prevent injury and make the pelvic area more flexible. Hula hooping is good for the skeletal system as well, stretching the spine and other bones in a healthy manner. The rhythmic massaging of the stomach it provides may be beneficial for the digestive and nervous system. It's a fun mood booster, too, and feels more like playing than working out.
Expert Insight
If you want to try hula hooping again for fitness or fun, start by making sure you have the right size hoop. A child's hoop will not be easy for an adult to use and a plus size person will need a larger hoop than a smaller person will. A good rule of thumb is for the hoop to reach your chest while holding it on its end, adding size for extra inches on the waist.
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