BRINGING BACK THE FUN FACTOR
I've recently taken up hula hooping! Bringing back joy into your life, having fun where you can, especially in a world that has become so serious with "life" and responsibilities. Yes, we are all doing "life" everyday, but I think that word can be quite contradictory! How many of us are really living life instead of dragging through it everyday? Life and joy in abundance is what I'm talking about.
Hula hooping is a fun way to get some exercise, spend some time with the kids (in laughter!), and just connecting with the child in you again. I dare you to take up a Holiday Hula Challenge! Go out and buy yourself a hula hoop today. Make sure that it is big enough, otherwise not even momentum will help. It should at least come up to the top of your thigh, or to just below your belly button. That is if you had to measure it from the floor up. Have a look at sports shops or try toy shops, they sometimes have the bigger ones.
The lightweight plastic hoops are a bit more tricky to keep up, while a heavier one will provide more momentum. I only found a lightweight plastic one, but soon realised that it is easier if you use two plastic ones at the same time (and look more like a pro...!) You can even tape two together. Some people apply tape around the hoop to provide more grip to your clothing instead of slipping off with just the plastic.
You need to warm up your muscles a little before you start attempting hula hooping. Remember that your last time was probably when you were a kid. Do some gentle stretching of the torso, extending arms, swaying your hips a bit. We don't want to pull a muscle that first try and get put off hooping.
So where did it all begin? The modern hula hoop was invented in 1958 by Arthur K. "Spud" Melin and Richard Knerr. Children around the world have played with hoops throughout history. But the hoop is an ancient invention. Ancient Greeks often used hooping as a form of exercise. Older hoops were made with metal, bamboo, wood, grasses and even vines. In the early 1800's, British sailors witnessed hula dancing in the Hawaiian Islands. Hula dancing and hooping motions looked very similar. That is how the name "hula hoop" came together, and the name stuck.
Benefits of hula hooping:
- Core strengthening
- Toning muscles
- Sculpting the waist
- Aerobic workout (that is if you manage to keep the hula hoop up for longer than 3 seconds!)
- Double joy! (Doing something fun and childlike, as well as releasing serotonin, the "feel good" hormone.)
- Affordable
- You can exercise and have fun with the kids at the same time.
There are many hula hoop world records out there; hooping with the most hoops, for the longest time, the largest hula hoop, hula hoop tricks etc. Have a look at some of the Youtube exercise clips online. Get your kids to join in on this. You'll be amazed at how popular it actually is!
So there is no excuse for not exercising and getting your muscles moving this holiday. Take up my Holiday Hula Challenge, and have fun while doing it!
Happy holidays!
Lizelle
