In the Hoop

Did you know that hula hooping is a great way to exercise?  I didn't until I went to a hooping class.  It was a lot of fun.

Two weeks ago Jill, the woman who teaches a piloga class at the gym, said she was a certified hoop fitness teacher and was going to offer a introductory session.  There would be no charge, and you could bring your own hoop or borrow one of the loaners she'd bring. I used to be pretty good at it back in the day, so I made plans to attend last Sunday morning.

By the time the class started there were about a dozen women scattered throughout the large room.  The first thing I learned was that hoops that are sold in the toy department will NOT work for most adults.  The bigger the hoop, the slower it will rotate around your body, and the easier it is to use.  I picked a 42" model, placed it around my waist, and started spinning it.  It didn't take long to remember how to keep it going. 

I'd give myself an 'A' on basic hooping, but when we moved on to different types of tricks I was less successful. I didn't do too bad walking forward and backward while keeping the hoop spinning, but when I tried to turn my body in a circle the hoop would quickly fall to the floor.  Every time I tried to do a 'halo', where the hoop spins around your hand extended above your body, the hoop would fly off my hand and across the room.

At the end of the class Jill asked if anyone was interested in signing up for additional lessons. I declined.  The session was a lot of fun, but the gym was too far away (about 30 minutes from the house) for me to go on a regular basis.  I did decide to buy my own hoop, though.  I emailed Jill and asked her to bring one to the piloga class.  After dinner this week I've gone down to the basement, turned on the radio, and hooped away..