/ 202 FITNESS / living well
Hoop,
there it is!
by Emily Johnson
he resonating sound of “OM”
filled the room and brightly
colored plastic hoops encircled
students channeling their inner Zen at
LoveLife Yoga Studio in Tempe. The
class, offered by the Phoenix group Heady
Hoop Tribe, mixed the relaxing and
peaceful nature of Vinyasa yoga with a
playful twist – a hula hoop. The longtime
child’s toy is making an unexpected
resurgence in the fitness world.
“It’s definitely a mind, body, spirit
experience,” says Jess Lynn, cofounder
of Heady Hoop Tribe. “It’s a low-impact
exercise, which makes it a great workout
for all ages. It’s really a whole-body
workout, with such a simple tool that
people can easily store behind their couch.”
The group offers one-of-a-kind fitness
fusion classes that incorporate basic to
advanced hula hooping with cardiovascular
and strength-building exercises. After
attending the class students are encouraged
to practice at home, where they can burn
up to 200 to 500 calories per hour. Not
only does it offer an intense cardiovascular
workout, it increases flexibility, builds core
strength and, for many hoopers, is a great
source of energy.
“I do it in the mornings when I want
T
40
to get up and get some energy,” says Kelly
Burke, a longtime hooper. She has made
hooping part of her daily routine. “I put some
house music on – it definitely gets me going
in the morning. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Hula hooping is slowly gaining
momentum as a way for a generation to
relive their youth and burn calories. “I’ve
been hooping since I was a little girl. It’s
so much fun! It brings me back to my
childhood,” says Karen “KJ” Brown, a fitness
instructor and regular hoop class attendee.
As a low-impact exercise, hooping
is easy on the joints and can help tone
the entire body. In addition to being
an effective weight loss solution it also
reduces stress, increases confidence and is
just plain fun.
The average class size is 15 to 20
students, creating an intimate and fun
experience. Whether you’re an established
hooper or a beginner, you are sure to feel
welcome and accepted.
I haven’t picked up a hula hoop since
I was about 10, so I knew my skills were
subpar at best. Once we learned the basic
movements and got to practice a variety
of skills, I found I could not stop smiling.
When I looked around at the rest of
the class it was apparent they couldn’t
wipe off their grins either. Even with the
202 magazine / october 2013 / 202magazine.com
Hula hooping
for fitness
occasional hoop smashing against the
ground, everyone was enjoying themselves
and having fun.
Lynn says there’s no reason to be
nervous if you’re new. “There’s a huge
community of loving people that are
ready and willing to support you and your
growth, so give it a shot!”
I encourage everyone to grab a hoop and
have some fun! What have you got to lose
except for a few calories? Hoop on Arizona!
Visit headyhooptribe.com for class
schedules and more information about
hooping.
Emily Johnson blogs about heath and fitness
at fitnessprincessblog.com.