How to Use a Hula Hoop

Were you one of those kids who could not resist hollering, "Gee, I want a Hula Hoop," as the Chipmunks warbled their way through the Christmas season? Here's how to use one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hula Hoops

1. Take hold of the hula hoop.

2. Lower it down to about ankle level.

3. Step into it (with both feet).

4. Bring it up to just below your waist.

5. Hold it with both hands and pull it forward so that it's resting against your back.

6. 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.

7. Leave the hula hoop on the ground for a few minutes and practice your hip movements: 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you've mastered the basic motion, see how far you can walk without dropping the hoop. In Oakland, California, there's a woman who's lost more than a hundred pounds by hula-hooping her way around Lake Merritt, the city's recreational center.

[hooprama]

on 11/8/2007 Finding a weighted hoop that is sized to fit you is one of the starting point to being able to hoop! Lots of hula hoop fitness teachers sell hoops online. hulahoopfitness.com

[CosmicHoops]

on 10/4/2007 Placing one foot in front of the other is good because it helps you shift your weight back and forth faster. Also, it can help to arch and flex your back slightly while rocking from one foot to the other. Most importantly, you need a hoop that is proportionately heavy enough for your size and weight. Check out these hoops at CosmicHoops.net

[CosmicHoops]

on 10/4/2007 Placing one foot in front of the other is good because it helps you shift your weight back and forth faster. Also, it can help to arch and flex your back slightly while rocking from one foot to the other. Most importantly, you need a hoop that is proportionately heavy enough for your size and weight. Check out these hoops at CosmicHoops.net

[CosmicHoops]

on 10/4/2007 Putting one foot in front of the other helps you shift your weight back and forth faster, thus putting more energy into the hoop. Also, arch and flex your spine slightly to add to the movement of the hoop. Remember a bigger, heavier hoop will be easier to help you get the hang of it, then you can move to a lighter hoop!

Happy Hooping!

Check out CosmicHoops.net for more hooping help

[EDANYA]

on 8/11/2007 chasing the hoop with your hips will not keep the hoop off of the ground. with one foot in front of the other and rocking your pelvis back & forth/forward & back you give the hoop momentum and can control it. if youre an adult you can make things even easier by using an adult sized hula hoop, without any water or noise makers that will throw it off balance. it just depends on what you want to do. if your answer is dance, then i would get a larger empty hoop. if its to play with children, then the smaller water filled hoops are fun because their size makes them go around faster and the water makes them more difficult to control.