Hooping and Hollering

My hula hoop finally arrived and I am on my way to becoming a full fledged hooper! Unlike the toy hula hoop, the weighted hoop is easy to spin and I was successful on my second attempt. I can easily keep it going for almost as long as I like. In fact, I am still hot and sweaty as I write after an hour of whirling, twirling, spinning and grinning. it's the most fun I've had exercising ever! With some of my favorite tunes programed on Pandora I was good to go.

So what benefits will I get from my new exercise toy? First of all, it doesn't feel like exercising. For me, that is a big plus, since I've never thought of exercising as fun. I call it a toy but the hoop can be as serious or as fun as I want. Squats, lunges or whatever move you chose can all be done while keeping the hoop in motion, adding a new dimension to your workout. I've read that hooping can burn anywhere from 300 to 800 calories per hour, depending on how energetic you are feeling. The range is anywhere from a lazy spin to a whirling dervish.

I was surprised at the size of my new hoop. It is about 42" in diameter and a sparkling pink and purple whir as I undulate to music. On August 7th you'll find me on the beach with a whole bunch of fellow hoopers - my first joint hoop venture. It is my hope to inspire some friends and neighbors to join me in hooping it up! So I fully recommend you watch the following video and if you are so inclined you can order your own hoop from Canyon Hoops or any of the myriad of hooping equipment suppliers. I'd be happy to answer whatever questions you may have (with my limited knowledge, of course) or refer you to someone who has been hooping for longer than my two days.

Happy Hooping!