Activity Focus: Hula Hooping for Fitness

After taking hula-hoop classes for two years, Candice Prior trained as an instructor at Studio in Essence in Halifax (where she teaches with her mentor, veteran hula-hoop artiste Monique Ryan, shown in the picture). Prior says that hula-hoop fitness classes are the next big thing.

“They are so much fun that it doesn’t even feel like you are doing a workout,” she says. We asked Prior a few questions about this activity…

Do you need a basic level of fitness to start this activity?

I don’t think so. All shapes and sizes turn up to the classes.

How easy is it to start this activity?

I have yet to see a student that couldn’t pick it up. Once you get the basic idea of what you are moving and what you are not moving, because there is a trick to it, it isn’t hard at all.

What kind of a workout does it give the body?

It involves your core, which we all know is important. It utilizes a lot of different muscles and burns off a lot of calories. If you are adding in leg movements and moving across the floor you get a full body workout, you really do.

We also do some arm work, where you are swirling the hoops on your arms and moving the hoops around your body with your hands, so every bit of you is working.

What kind of equipment do you need to do this?

All you need is comfortable clothes. Most of the people in the class go barefoot, but shoes are fine. If you do wear shoes, I’d advise you to wear cross trainers instead of runners because you are moving side to side.

What is the cost of doing this activity?

Taking a class at our studio costs about $12 per session.

____________

This post is a repeat, but look forward to more original content to come in the future.