Hula hoops aren't just a hugely popular pastime for kids. The hula hoop trend is also going through the roof among adults.

With hooping, you can work many different muscle groups using just one training tool, the hula hoop. That's not only effective, it's also a lot of fun.

The Hula Hoop Trend and Its Possibilities

hula hoop trend

Similar to belly dancing, salsa or other aerobic dance styles, hooping burns around 400 calories an hour.
Hooping mainly trains your core, which includes the muscles of your abs, back and waist.
In 2015, the University of Waterloo even published a study in which 13 participants lost a whopping 3.4 centimeters (about 1.3 inches) from their waist and 1.4 centimeters (about 0.5 inches) from their hips by hooping for 15 minutes a day, in just 6 weeks.
But it's not just your core. Thanks to the firm, stable stance, the muscles of your legs are worked too, specifically your thighs, glutes, quadriceps and calves. To keep the hula hoop up and stop it from constantly falling to the floor, you have to move it evenly and also hold a certain basic posture. Workouts that train stability and posture are, of course, also ideal for improving your balance and body control.
Of course, hooping offers other options too: you can swing the hoop around your arms and train the muscles there, or, with some practice, on another part of your body.
Not to be forgotten, hooping also has health benefits and, alongside muscle training, is a very effective cardio workout. It clearly improves oxygen flow, which can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

hula hoop trend

The Benefits of the Hula Hoop Trend at a Glance

- Trains your abdominal muscles
- Helps you lose weight effectively and slim down your measurements
- Strengthens your back muscles
- Leg and arm muscles can be worked too
- Improves core stability
- Effective cardio workout
- Improves balance
- Better flexibility
- Fun for the whole family
- Flexible: suitable indoors and outdoors

What to Look For When Buying a Hula Hoop

For hula hoop training to be fun and effective at all, there are definitely a few things to consider before buying. The most important is probably choosing the right size. A rule of thumb says that beginners are better off choosing a hula hoop that reaches at least from the floor to your hip and weighs about 600 grams (roughly 1.3 pounds).
Smaller and lighter hula hoops are better suited for people who already have some practice.
In general, though, you should know that modern training hula hoops have little to do with the hula hoop toy for kids, so buying a hoop in a toy store is not recommended. If you want an effective hula hoop workout, take a close look at the hoop first.