Why Hula Hoop?

Hula hooping is something that I avoided for the majority of my life. It didn't make sense to me as an adult, because it didn't make sense to me as a child. What could I possibly do with a small plastic ring that refused to stay on my body, no matter how hard I willed it?

With some slight modifications, it turns out that I can do a lot. Hula hooping has changed over the years. It's not a craze, nor a fad. In fact, it doesn't really have a definite identity. These days, hoops are bigger, heavier and usually covered in decorative tape. While the tape helps to stick to your clothing, the heavier material and larger diameter make it easier to keep the hoop in motion. With this greater ease of use, the hoop can provide an outlet for a wide range of people.

Hoops are used for fitness, artistic expression, meditation, relaxation and many stages in between. There is no one "type" of person that hula hoops. Practitioners range from young children to working professionals, ravers and hippies, teenagers and students of many disciplines. With so many different faces and so many different vocations representing the hoop, one might wonder why it is able to connect with such an array of people.

The answer seems to lie in the simplicity of the hoop. Because it is a simple shape, it is not prone to specificity. No one needs a degree to understand it and there isn't a 12 page manual or extra parts required.

If you want to work your core muscles, then the hula hoop is for you.

If you want to dance and play, then the hula hoop is for you.

If you want to create a space for reflection and mindfulness, you've got a friend in the hoop.

It can be a solo or social activity. The hoop oozes nostalgia, while offering something new and fresh. In its simplicity, it allows the user to put all or none of their imagination into it. Whether in a public space, or taking a class, hooping can be a tremendous social outlet for people looking for a fun activity to share with someone else.

Friendships are made through hooping, because you can't help but laugh at yourself when you first try it. Even though it is a simple object, the movements that you can create and discover can be anything but simple. Hooping challenges the mind and body, inspires the creative imagination and offers hours of enjoyment for anyone that is willing to give it a try.

With so many benefits, the real question is, "Why aren't you hooping yet?"

Matt Stupar is a certified personal trainer and hula hoop fitness instructor. His business, Hip Hoop Hooray!, supplies hula hoops and fitness instruction to studios and individuals in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.

For more information on hula hoop fitness, you can visit Matt's site: http://www.hiphoophooray.com

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