Hooping for a Healthier You

by deanna grubbs

Putting a new spin on an old toy makes for the latest exercise craze. If you’re lucky enough to have your mother’s old hula-hoop up in the attic, bring it down and modernize it by adding a few pounds of weight for this hip new exercise program that works 35 core muscles! By decorating it with colorful tape you’ll fit in with a personalized and exciting form of exercise equipment at the gym. This exercise is called ‘hooping’. I sat down with Billings hoop expert, Rachael Bone, instructor at The Yoga Spot, to get the skinny on a new twist to exercising.

Q: What is hooping?

A: It’s not like the hula hooping of the 50’s. These hoops are weighted between 2 to 4 pounds and instructors are certified for a “fun-filled low impact exercise program that incorporates resistance training”. Hooping is different than a regimented exercise routine; it is active and has more of an inner creativity draw. Hooping exercises improves balance, flexibility, dexterity and co-ordination to tones and reshape the abdomen, buttocks, and legs. For the kids, I add more moves where I get into a dance fusion, so there are a lot of cool tricks to learn in hooping.

Q: Where does hooping come from?

A: Hula Hoops we not actually invented in the 1950’s, but in fact people were doing much the same thing with circular hoops made from grape vines and stiff grasses all over the ancient world. More than three thousand years ago, children in Egypt played with large hoops of dried grapevines. The toy was propelled along the ground with a stick or swung around at the waist.

During the fourteenth century, a “hooping” craze swept England, and was as popular among adults as kids. The records of doctors at the time attribute numerous dislocated backs and heart attacks to “hooping.” The word hula became associated with the toy in the early 1800s when British sailors visited the Hawaiian Islands and noted the similarity between “hooping” and hula dancing. In 1957, an Australian company began making wood rings for sale in retail stores.

The item attracted the attention of Wham-0, a fledgling California toy manufacturer. After manufacturing items for hunting they decided tomanufacture a plastic hoop in a variety of bright colors. This company promoted it for months in 1958 on Southern California playgrounds where they would do demonstrations and give away hoops to get the children to learn and play. Their perseverence turned HULA HOOP into the greatest fad the country has ever seen. Twenty-five million were sold in four months!

The fad died out in the sixties, but Hula Hoops are now very much with us again thanks to the fitness craze.

Q: How did you get in to hooping?

A: Around ten years ago I looked for something different to go along with teaching yoga; I’ve enjoyed hula hooping but never thought it would turn it into an exercise program. Hooping has become popular in the fitness community because of the inner creativity that’s involved and the freedom of not having to go to the gym for a regimented workout.

Q: What are hoop making parties?

A: I make the hoops for use in my class so the kids I was teaching wanted to design their own hoops. I started having parties where the kids could join in the fun of designing hoops. It’s about a 2-hour process. It’s very visually stimulating and challenging for them and they love it. I have all different colors of tape and hoops so there’s no limit to the uniqueness of the hoops that can be created. During the party we make the hoops, as well as learn and practice with them. After the party, they get to take their hoop home and continue to practice what they have learned while getting some great exercise!

Q: How many people can join a hooping party?

A: If we do the party indoors at the Yoga Spot, the space is small so I limit to a party of 5. If you want to do the party outside or in a bigger spot, then 10 to 12 people is a good size group.

Q: Do partiers need to bring any materials?

A: No, everything’s included! And I’ve got a great selection of hoops and tapes!

Q: How do we get in on this action?

A: To book a party or for information on hooping classes call (907) 471-9434. Or you can email me at bonelrachael@hotmail.com.

Deanna Grubbs lives in Billings, is a mother to two teenagers and is a school librarian.

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Hooping for a Healthier You

by deanna grubbs

Putting a new spin on an old toy makes for the latest exercise craze. If you’re lucky enough to have your mother’s old hula-hoop up in the attic, bring it down and modernize it by adding a few pounds of weight for this hip new exercise program that works 35 core muscles! By decorating it with colorful tape you’ll fit in with a personalized and exciting form of exercise equipment at the gym. This exercise is called ‘hooping’. I sat down with Billings hoop expert, Rachael Bone, instructor at The Yoga Spot, to get the skinny on a new twist to exercising.

Q: What is hooping?

A: It’s not like the hula hooping of the 50’s. These hoops are weighted between 2 to 4 pounds and instructors are certified for a “fun-filled low impact exercise program that incorporates resistance training”. Hooping is different than a regimented exercise routine; it is active and has more of an inner creativity draw. Hooping exercises improves balance, flexibility, dexterity and co-ordination to tones and reshape the abdomen, buttocks, and legs. For the kids, I add more moves where I get into a dance fusion, so there are a lot of cool tricks to learn in hooping.

Q: Where does hooping come from?

A: Hula Hoops we not actually invented in the 1950’s, but in fact people were doing much the same thing with circular hoops made from grape vines and stiff grasses all over the ancient world. More than three thousand years ago, children in Egypt played with large hoops of dried grapevines. The toy was propelled along the ground with a stick or swung around at the waist.

During the fourteenth century, a “hooping” craze swept England, and was as popular among adults as kids. The records of doctors at the time attribute numerous dislocated backs and heart attacks to “hooping.” The word hula became associated with the toy in the early 1800s when British sailors visited the Hawaiian Islands and noted the similarity between “hooping” and hula dancing. In 1957, an Australian company began making wood rings for sale in retail stores.

The item attracted the attention of Wham-0, a fledgling California toy manufacturer. After manufacturing items for hunting they decided tomanufacture a plastic hoop in a variety of bright colors. This company promoted it for months in 1958 on Southern California playgrounds where they would do demonstrations and give away hoops to get the children to learn and play. Their perseverence turned HULA HOOP into the greatest fad the country has ever seen. Twenty-five million were sold in four months!

The fad died out in the sixties, but Hula Hoops are now very much with us again thanks to the fitness craze.

Q: How did you get in to hooping?

A: Around ten years ago I looked for something different to go along with teaching yoga; I’ve enjoyed hula hooping but never thought it would turn it into an exercise program. Hooping has become popular in the fitness community because of the inner creativity that’s involved and the freedom of not having to go to the gym for a regimented workout.

Q: What are hoop making parties?

A: I make the hoops for use in my class so the kids I was teaching wanted to design their own hoops. I started having parties where the kids could join in the fun of designing hoops. It’s about a 2-hour process. It’s very visually stimulating and challenging for them and they love it. I have all different colors of tape and hoops so there’s no limit to the uniqueness of the hoops that can be created. During the party we make the hoops, as well as learn and practice with them. After the party, they get to take their hoop home and continue to practice what they have learned while getting some great exercise!

Q: How many people can join a hooping party?

A: If we do the party indoors at the Yoga Spot, the space is small so I limit to a party of 5. If you want to do the party outside or in a bigger spot, then 10 to 12 people is a good size group.

Q: Do partiers need to bring any materials?

A: N