Hula Hoop for Exercise

Last weekend, the kids were with Tita Gay at Divisoria for some bargain-shopping and one of the things Tita Gay got was a discount hula hoop (sometimes spelled "hoola hoop").

Although they had some hula hoop toys before, I don't think any of the kids could really sustain the looping of the hoop at the waist. I know I can't. I've tried the hula hoop and generally quit after only three tries.

And no, I no longer try to learn hula hooping. But I'm always impressed with those (mostly kids) who could get the hoop turning seemingly at will. It's like they could go on forever.

Well, here's DH getting the hula hoop going. That's Renz cheering her on.

Weighted Hula Hoop for Fitness

The discount Hula Hoop they bought cost Php200. It is an exercise hoop designed for hula hoop workouts. It is the adult-sized version with a diameter of 80 centimeters. I don't know exactly how heavy it is, but I'm quite sure it's made of metal.

It's not like the usual plastic tubing kind of toy hula hoop that eventually warps. And because it's made of metal, it is wrapped with colorful foam. I suppose this is to cushion the hula hoop and to prevent the heavy metal hoop from digging into the body.

The foam covering is also ribbed so the hula hoop grips the body while it is turning. This minimizes slipping and therefore allows for some extended hula hoop workouts.

DH is a natural with the weighted hula hoop. Here, she's hula hooping with some fancy arm movements that obviously impressed Renz.

History of Hula Hoops

Believe it or not, the hula hoop isn't a recent invention. In fact, nobody could really claim that they invented the first hula hoop. The Greeks used hooping as a form of exercise. Older hoops have been made from metal, bamboo, wood, grasses, and even vines.

However, modern companies "re-invented" their own versions of the hula hoop using unusual materials, for example; plastic hula hoops with added bits of glitter and noise makers, and hoops that are collapsible.

Around 1300, hooping came to Great Britain, homemade versions of the toy became very popular. In the early 1800s, British sailors first witnessed hula dancing in the Hawaiian Islands. Hula dancing and hooping look somewhat similar and the name "hula hoop" came together.

Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin became the most successful manufacturers of hula hoops in modern times. They trademarked the name Hula Hoop and started manufacturing the toy out of the new plastic Marlex in 1958.

Here's DH now REALLY grinding into the groove, with hands behind the head for maximum effect! Woohoo!

Some Trivia on the Hula Hoop
  • Japan once banned the hula hoop because the rotating hip action seems indecent.
  • On June 4, 2005, Australian Kareena Oates set a Guinness world record for hula hooping - with 100 hoops for three full revolutions.
  • 101 hoops were spun by Alesya Goulevich of Belarus on June 11, 2006
  • 105 hoops were spun by Jin Linlin of China on October 28, 2007.
  • The world record for the largest Hula Hoop (by circumference) spun was set by American Ashrita Furman at 51.5 feet on June 1, 2007.

Go ahead, post your comment below!

Anonymous said...

Hi! May I know where exactly in Divisoria were you able to buy the adult-sized hula hoop? Thank you very much!:)

Blackdove said...

Hi. This was 6 years ago, but I remember my sister-in-law saying that it was bought at a store across the now 168 mall. I think that store is near the ones that sold school supplies. Good luck on your hunt!