"Hooping" as a form of exercise has been around for centuries. The early Greeks were the first to use hoops for exercise and "hooping" was introduced to Great Britain during the 1300's. In the 1800's, British soldiers discovered a dance by Hawaiians that looked similar to "hooping." Hence, the name "hula hooping" was born. The first true Hula Hoop, or at least as we know it, was trademarked in 1958 by the Wham-O company. Wham-O was a company founded by Richard Kerr and Authur "Spud" Melin who also marketed the first frisbee, another great "toy" for exercise. Within the first 6 months of its introduction, 20 million Hula Hoops were sold... at $1.98 each! (1)
So, its no wonder that Michelle Obama chose the Hula Hoop for her "exercise device" in this video! With its rich history, the Hula Hoop is an effective and fun means of exercise. Hula Hooping is a favorite Exercise Craze that all ages can enjoy! Hula Hooping is easy, inexpensive, although no longer $1.98 a piece, and portable so most anyone can "hoop!" Hoops now come weighted to increase difficulty and increase performance. Hoops are made collapsible for easier mobility and they come in many wild and crazy colors. How could exercise get any better?
As far as an effective exercise alternative, the "average" calorie expenditure is anywhere from 300- 600 calories per 60 minutes, according to Hooping.org, www.hooping.org. This is obviously a wide range but "calorie kill" will vary greatly based on several variables such as a person's weight, muscle vs fat composition, intensity and the like.
So if you're looking to experiment with new ideas for fitness for the coming new year or just want something fun to do while watching TV, why not try the Hula Hoop? You may only need to look as far as your child's room for one of the nations fastest growing Exercise Crazes, Hula Hooping!
(1) About.com Inventors.
No comments:
Post a Comment