About Hula Hoop Exercises

The hula hoop may seem like a child's novelty toy, but this simple plastic hoop has the potential to work toward weight loss and muscle gain. Through hula hoop exercises, hula hoop performances can be easily done at your own home and save money from going to the gym or buy purchasing an expensive exercise machine.

Types

Performing hula hoop exercises can be done with two types of hula hoops, regular and weighted hula hoops. Regular hula hoops can be found at a retail store like Wal-Mart while weighted hula hoops are available at sporting and exercise stores. Weighted hula hoops are made with a heavier metal like aluminum to make the hoop easier to use and burn off more calories.

Features

The traditional hula hoop method is one of the easiest hula hoop exercises to perform. Place the hula hoop flat on a floor. Step into the hula hoop and pull it up to your waist with both hands. Pull the hula hoop out until it is pressed hard up against your back. Use both hands to swing the hula hoop around your body. Move your hips in a clockwise motion to keep the hula hoop up on your waist. Continue this for a half-hour to burn more than 175 calories.

Function

Some other hula hoop exercises can add more to your routine. Place the hula hoop around your neck and swing it around as if your neck were your hips. A couple minutes of this exercise will increase flexibility in your spine. Place two hula hoops around your waist. This will keep your hips constantly moving and in multiple directions. Lift a foot up as you hula hoop. Switch the foot once you have mastered one and do the other one.

Benefits

Using the hula hoop can be very beneficial to your overall health. The lightness of the hoop puts little strain on your body. Calories are constantly being burned when you work out with the hula hoop and it works on slimming the stomach area. Hula hoops are one of the cheapest forms of exercising as many hoops can be found for less than $10.

Considerations

If you do not have the room or budget to afford a hula hoop, than the exercises can still be completed without one. Simply re-create the action of the hula hoop by standing up and swaying your hips. Nintendo's Wii Fit also has several hula hoop exercises you can do with the Wii Balance board. The machine tells you if you are doing them correctly and it eliminates the indoor space needed.

Resources

• Hula Hoop Exercise Information