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Weight Loss Spotlight

Hula Hoop Revival

Hula Hoop Revival New and Improved

A few years ago, Holly Iverson, a fitness instructor in Milwaukee, had a brainstorm. The hula hoop she used in fitness workouts was just too lightweight. By stuffing the hollow plastic tube with telephone wire and wrapping it in foam for comfort, she was able to create an aerobic exercise aid that boosted the value of the workout. The added weight makes the hula hoop easier to move. Since Reston unveiled her Heavy Hoop at fitness conventions, Heavy Hoop, Inc., has sold thousands of the gadgets to health clubs and schools. Rehab centers have ordered it for use by stroke and arthritis patients. Group exercise classes across the country use it as well.

Those who would snicker at the idea of using the retro toy will give greater respect once they try it. Much harder than regular aerobics, using the Heavy Hoop can be much more tiring. Because of the added weight, you get not only an aerobic workout session, some strength training is added as well. The Heavy Hoop looks a lot different from the prototype Iverson devised in her home basement. It's available in different sizes, weights, and materials. The basic Hoop is about 36 in diameter and weighs 3 pounds. I doesn't sound like much, but Iverson says AIT's mean and tough, yet a lot of fun.

Traditionally, the hula hoop movement rotates the hoop around the hips and waist using circular trunk movements, targeting the abs, hips, and waist. A typical ten minute exercise with this hoop movement is a strenuous one. It can then be incorporated into high and low impact aerobic exercises, including crunches, squats, leg lifts, arm circles, jumping jacks and stretches. Arm toning can come from lifting the hoop overhead. Because it weighs only 3 pounds, it will not seem like a great effort until you feel the burn the next day.

One participant said she liked the using the hoop because it kept her mind off the fact that she was exercising trying to control the hoop kept her from concentrating on the exercise itself. Because it not difficult, using the Heavy Hoop can be an excellent means of cardiovascular exercise.

Also, because the movements are circular and not linear, the body works in all directions, allowing the arms to stay the same distance apart. Plus, it's just plain fun!

Health and Fitness News:
The Washington Post