Amazing Benefits of Hooping - Hula Your Way to Health and More

Can you hula hoop your way to fitness?

What’s been known as a kids toy is actually a great fitness tool for people of all ages. Those plastic little circles are huge when it comes to the health benefits it provides.

Not only is it fun, it’s an awesome workout for your body and mind.

With my own mother suffering from dementia, I’ve come to realize how important it is to exercise your brain. It’s something we might not typically think about when it comes to exercising.

The greatest thing about hula hooping, to me, is the fact that it’s one of the best ways you can exercise your brain. I could seriously tell and feel how much of a mental challenge and workout it was.

A recent study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City had some amazing findings, but it didn’t surprise me.

The study suggested that hoop dancing regularly can help increase intelligence and keep Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia at bay.

The 21 year study measured mental age and compared it to the recreational activities of it’s participants. Dancing frequently showed a whopping 76% risk reduction, compared to a 35% reduction with reading, and 47% reduction with doing crossword puzzles 4 days per week.

Hoop dancing helps to keep you brain cells active, cells that we would otherwise lose as we age.

With age, our brain neurons and synapses that communicate with different parts of our brain and body eventually weaken and die. Hoop dancing is believed to be better than just any form of dancing, since you can learn different moves and tricks.

You can change up a hooping routine and challenge our brains in different and new ways versus doing a learned danced routine that can be repetitive.

Researchers feel that by maintaining your brain cells you’re actually increasing intelligence, which allows for decisions to be made quicker and better.

If I haven’t sold you on hooping yet, maybe the other benefits it gives you will.

Did you know that in an hour you can burn over 400 calories?

It’s a great cardiovascular and core workout, and helps tone muscles in your abs, legs, hips, and arms by utilizing different moves with your hoop. Have a stiff back?

Hooping helps improve the flexibility of your back. Having strong core muscles and greater flexibility will help prevent back injuries. Hoop dancing is fun, helps improve mood and coordination, and you don’t have to be a kid to do it.

Buying Tips

It’s important to note that larger hoops are best for adults to buy, since the plastic ones for kids in toy stores don’t tend to work very well or be as effective. You can typically purchase in sporting goods stores or you can buy a custom made hula hoop.