'The World'

By Jessica Donnovan



It may come as a shock to you, but including a little hula hooping in your daily routine will come with some astonishing health benefits not to mention add a little fun to an otherwise dull exercise routine. Chances are, you can probably think back to your childhood and remember using those large plastic hoops to have a little fun as they rolled around your waist line, though many of us figured that they had died out by the time we were ten never to be heard of again, I sure did. Well that's not the case because the reality is, hula hoops are making a come back but not as a toy, oh no, instead they are becoming somewhat of an exercising icon for people looking to enjoy getting and staying fit.

Aside from obviously being loads of fun, all kinds of people are beginning to discover that hula hooping is also an excellent all around workout with an emphasis on the tummy or abdominal muscles. These days, there are many women across the globe that have dropped some of those boring daily exercises we've all grown tired of and picked up their hula hoops for an exciting new way to workout.

By now your interest has probably been peaked and I have you pondering the true health benefits of hula hooping, right? Well the fact is that hula hooping really can be a great full body workout, although the main concentration of the hoop is in your mid
section, working to strengthen ab
muscles, tighten your stomach and even lose some weight along the way. By simply moving the hula hoop to different points on your body you are able to get that full body workout we all dream of. For instance, lets say you want to tone your arms, roll the hoop up around your arm and move it in a circular motion, making sure to keep the hoop going, almost immediately you will begin to feel the burn that we all love to hate.

While you can take classes and buy instructional videos that teach you how to workout with a hula hoop, its really not necessary. Here are some things to keep in mind to benefit the most:

1. When it comes to hula hooping, the name of the game is to keep it moving. The longer you keep moving, the more exercise you will get and more calories you will burn.

2. Place the hoop in the area you wish to workout. Place it lower down on your waist to work your hips, thighs and buttocks. Place it on your arms to work your arms, your legs works your legs and so on.

3. Consider trying a dance routine as you're hula hooping for a more strenuous workout.

The truth of the matter is, hula hooping is a great workout for the whole family, it always has been we just didn't realize it, and especially something that the kids will enjoy. After all, its our job to pull them away from the video games once in a while and every child and/or person should be reaping the rewards of a regular fitness plan.