A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
Hula hoops have been used for recreation, play and meditation for a long time, with evidence of hoops made from dried grapevines being used as far back as 1000 BC in Egypt! Records kept by doctors during the fourteenth century document a 'hooping craze' which took place in England at that time. The activity eventually was dubbed 'hula hooping' during the 1800s when sailors visited Hawaii and noticed that hula dancing and hooping involved a similar movement.
In 1958 a company called Wham-O began manufacturing brightly colored plastic hoops and eventually sold millions of hoops worldwide.
The current Hooping revolution began in the USA when hoopdancers started to appear in clubs and at festivals moving in mesmerizing spirals and circles and weaving intricate moves within the flow of their hoops.
Today's hoops are bigger, heavier and decorated with brightly colored tape. All these factors make the hoops easier and more fun to use, contributing to the health and fitness benefits of regular hooping.
Hooping is a mind-body activity which results in people feeling good about themselves. Regular hooping practice can result in feeling more positive and calmer with a greater sense of being grounded and connected to your body. These good feelings can help boost self-esteem and confidence and relieve stress. Being a rhythmic motion, it can bring beneficial changes in brainwave activity, resulting in a sense of happiness and inner calm. Hooping can be a joyful moving meditation.
While the mind and spirit are being uplifted, the body is being worked and toned. Hooping works over 30 core muscles, improving balance and coordination, and helping to increase strength and stamina. Regular hooping practice improves self-confidence while mobilizing and freeing the spine, balancing the pelvis and promoting a healthier alignment of the body.
This is an activity suitable for anyone from age 3 to 93. Variations in style and hoop weight make it achievable for almost anyone - at any size or level of fitness. Before you begin any new exercise regime or fitness routine, we do recommend you check with your doctor, especially if you haven't exercised for a while