We know our bodies need to move. But modern lifestyles dictate we have to be sedentary for most hours of the day. All this means is we need to put a little more effort in planning activities that meet our goal to MOVE.
Most of you reading this probably have an exercise routine that you follow. But how many of you can say that, for you, exercising is FUN?
Today I am going to share some health benefits of fun exercise. Specifically, hula hooping! Remember, hooping is for ALL AGES! This is something you can do with your friends or family, get your kids involved! They will love it.
1. Improves mood
Right away you will notice a big smile on your face as you practice keeping that hoop on your hips.
2. Improves coordination
Hooping isn’t easy at first, but keep at it and see the improvements over time as you tone up and learn to use muscles you didn’t know you had. Also, try Suhaila’s Pilates Belly Dance where she explains in detail how to develop your hip muscles along with specific exercises. Another fun workout!
3. Tones the body
Your core will be activated and, if you remember from my classes, the core includes all the muscles from knees to nipples. These are the muscles that will help you sit up straight, stand tall, and be able to lift things off the ground without throwing your back out.
4. Burns fat
While you are toning your body and having fun, you will be burning fat. Muscles require fat for fuel and for hours after you have stopped hooping you will continue to burn fat.
5. Improves spinal flexibility
The actions you make with your hips while hooping increase the flexibility of your spinal muscles, tendons and ligaments helping them to be healthier and work better. And when our spine feels good, our bodies feel good.
6. Increases your fitness level
As you continue to laugh and play while hooping you’ll notice that you can do it for longer amounts of time and with greater ease. Try going for a brisk walk after a few weeks of hooping and notice how much farther and faster you can go before getting tired out.
Other benefits are stress reduction, body awareness, improved self-image, improved joint health and cardiovascular benefits.
Make hooping a part of your workout choices or weekly routine and see not only your fitness level improve but your motivation to stay on your fitness program. It’s like a domino effect resulting in goals reached!
Blissings!
Andrea
Sources for this article include:
1) http://www.3fatchicks.com/6-fitness-benefits-of-hula-hooping/
2) http://www.livestrong.com/article/124992-health-benefits-hula-hooping/
3) http://www.hooping.org/tag/benefits-of-hooping/
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