When most people think of exercising, thoughts of treadmills, gym machines and bicycles might pop into the head as a first thought. These ideas can also bring about a feeling of dread. After all, traditional exercise as we know it can often feel like more of a chore than a pleasure. But are these the only work out options available to people who are looking to lose weight or enhance their fitness? Definitely not. Any sort of activity that requires you to exert yourself can be considered exercise, and it certainly does not have to be boring!

Best Hula Hoops in UK 2020

One of the more unique activities that more and more people are starting to participate in, not only for fun but for the health benefits as well, is hula hooping. Most of us probably had a hula hoop or two as a child, but perhaps had not thought about it again since them. However, hula hoops are certainly not just a child’s toy, as there are a huge number of ways to use this very simple invention as part of your exercise routine – in fact, your entire fitness workout can revolve around hula hooping if you wish.

So what are the health benefits of hula hooping, and how can you get started on the road to taking advantage of them, especially if you haven’t touched a hula hoop since you were ten years old? Keep on reading to find out!

Hula Hoop Exercise and Health Benefits

These are five of the most important and exciting benefits of being involved in regular hula hooping activity. Not only is it fun, but you’ll start to notice changes to your body in a surprisingly short amount of time too.

1. Hula Hooping Works Out The Full Body

Up to 30 main muscles in the body are worked out when you do hula hooping correctly (and the key is to learn how to do it correctly in order to reap the most benefits). The ranges from the arm muscles, down through the middle of the body, to the legs; making it a truly all over body workout.

2. Hula Hooping Is A Great Abdominal Muscles Workout

Forget boring sit ups when you can work out those abs so much better, and with more fun, using your hula hoop. Because hooping is considered to be a complete workout for the core of the body, it results in the strengthening of the back and stomach muscles and loss of fat around the mid-section. When you lose fat here, your muscles underneath begin to appear more prominent (this is how six pack abs are born!).

3. It Strengthens Your Back Muscles and the Spine

Because of the unique movements required during hula hooping motion, your spine is moved in ways that it may not do so during almost any other form of exercise workout. This results in better flexibility being achieved over time, and can assist you in building up back strength, that results in less chance of back injuries or back pain. Evidence shows that hula hooping can in particular help to build strength in the lower spine muscles, which is of great benefit to lower back pain sufferers – a problem affecting millions of people.

4. Hula Hooping Is Great For Weight Loss

It goes without saying that a form of physical activity which has so many benefits for the body is also going to have great benefits for those wishing to lose weight as well. If you’re fed up with the same old weight loss exercises, or just want to add something different to your workout routines a few times per week, hula hooping provides that variety as well as the ability to really help you shed those extra pounds. If we all had continued hula hooping from childhood into adulthood, much fewer of us would be overweight!

So now that you know the benefits, let’s talk about one of the common areas of our bodies that people are concerned about – our waistlines! If you’ve ever tried other exercise or diet programs, you know for a fact just how hard it is to lose that flab around the waist. Hula hooping is able to help you accomplish this easily and best of all, love doing it. Want to learn how to lose the belly fat quickly and while having fun to boot?

Hula Hoop Buying Guide

If you are going to get right into hula hooping as a fitness regime, then you’ll want the right equipment to make the process as effective and comfortable as possible. Buying the right hoop is important, as is being aware of any extra accessories that can enhance your workouts – whether you are choosing to do hula hooping for weight loss, for fitness, or simply for fun.

Types of Hula Hoops

One of the most important factors in getting the most out of your hula hoop fitness regime is to select the right type of hula hoop for your body size and your skill level. Additionally, the type of hooping exercises you plan to do will also determine the type of hoop you need; contrary to popular belief, not all hula hoops are created equal. For example, some exercises might require the use of mini hoops, whilst others are suited to the larger, full sized hula hoops. Ultimately, you will likely end up building a kit of various hula hoops that can be used for different applications, especially as your skill and fitness level advances with regular practice.

Standard 40″ Hula Hoops

A standard hula hoop measures 40 inches in diameter and weighs about 1.5 lbs. They are suited for every level from beginner to the most advanced user. These hoops come in all sorts of wild colors and designs (even glow in the dark), so you can completely customize your hoop to fit your personality and make your workouts full of life!

Mini Hula Hoops

Mini hula hoops allow the addition of brand new, unique exercises to your hooping training. Mini hoops measure about 24 inches and are very light weight. They are excellent for exercises that focus on the arms, core and the back. You will usually want to buy a kit of several mini hoops, as many exercises require the use of two or more at one time.

Adjustable Hula Hoops

One of the new hula hoop innovations, available from Hoopnotica, is the adjustable hula hoop. Labelled with the name Breakaways, these hoops let you customize the size of the hula hoop as your skills progress. It works by letting you remove segments of the hoop in order to make it the perfect size. There are various option too, such as full sized hoops which can be adjusted from 40 inches down to 36 inches, as well as the flexible “Skinny Minis” which are very light 34 inch hoops which can be easily adjusted into mini hoops – letting you use them for multiple types of hooping workouts.

Pregnancy Hula Hoops

Yes, they even make hula hoops especially for pregnant women! There’s no reason for giving up this wonderful activity during the stages of your pregnancy where you feel comfortable participating in it. The founder of the company Hoopnotica even used her pregnancy hula hoop in hospital when she started having labor pains as a low impact relaxation exercise!

Kids Hula Hoops

Some kids are still into hula hooping, and many others don’t know what they’re missing until they get their first hula hoop. At 34 inches in diameter, a kids hoop is the perfect size for smaller bodies, whilst being designed to weigh as little as possible. Kids hoops come in a range of exciting colors, so children can feel excited about selecting one to match their taste and personality.

Travel Hoops

If you move around a lot with your hoop, then you’d appreciate a travel hoop which comes apart in segments, and can easily be stored and then put back together in seconds.

Hula Hoop Accessories

You can make your hula hooping experience even more fun, comfortable and productive by adding some interesting and useful accessories to your hooping kit.

Gloves

Hula hooping gloves provide extra grip as you use the hoop. If your workouts are relatively long and strenuous (as they should be!) then you are likely to get pretty sweaty hands after a while, and this can impact on your grip. Additionally, if you are doing lots of arm work then the back of the hands can take a bit of a beating from the hula hoop. A good pair of quality gloves will ensure that the backs of the hands are protected, without impacting on your dexterity. Make sure you choose the perfectly sized gloves for you so that you can still handle the hula hoop with ease and comfort.

Other hooping accessories that you can consider adding to your arsenal include a hoop strap, which allows easy carrying of your hoop, and hoop extenders which are able to add extra inches to any of your hoops.

What size of Hula Hoop Should I Use?

To determine what size of hula hoop you should order, you need to consider a few things.

1. Height – How tall are you? This will give you a rough idea of the diameter (size) of hoop you should get. The below are averages:

Under 5’2 = 38 inches
5’3 to 5’8 = 40 inches
5’9 and up = 42 inches

You should also measure from the floor to two inches above your belly button.  The hoop should measure the same distance.

2.  Weight – If you carry extra weight around your midsection, you will want to purchase a larger size of hula hoop.  The more space that you have between you and the hula hoop, the more likely you will insure success when starting out because the hoop therefore rotates slower.  I would suggest going larger if you are around 38 inches.

3.  Skill Level – If you have hula hooped in the past, you will likely know what type of hoop you want or at least the diameter.

When a person first begins hula hooping, they typically prefer a heavier and thicker hula hoop.  This is because the inertia of the hoop spinning at the heavier size makes it easier than if you were using a thinner/lighter hoop.  One other item to factor in is if you are using the hula hoop for waist hooping or if you will be doing some hand hooping.  If you plan on doing hand hooping, you should look at one of the lighter hoops.

Decision time…  Now that you know the diameter of the hoop, you need to determine what will create the hoop… which tubing.

Beginner and for Exercise = 1 inch 75 PSI

1 inch @ 75 PSI = This is the best tubing for a person who is just starting to use a hula hoop.  It weighs just under two pounds when tape has completed.  If you are a petite person, you would likely prefer an Exercise Hoop.

Beginner and Intermediate also for Petite Women = 3/4 inch 100 PSI

3/4 inch @ 100 PSI = This is for a person who wants to exercise.  Because it is lighter than the heavier hoops it allows for a larger range of motion and more calories are burned.  It weighs about 1.5 pounds once taped.  You also open up the ability to learn more about hoop dance.

Handmade Exercise Hula Hoops

It should be added that to increase the weight of a hula hoop, you have a few options.  One option is to add extra tape.  This helps add a little bit of extra weight.    The other option is to put some extra weight into the tubing.  You could add dry rice, marbles, ball bearings, water or anything else that you may have at your disposal.