10 Reasons Hula Hooping is NOT Only for Kids

This list includes reasons why you should not only expect children to be using those plastic circles. Hula hoops are for teens and adults, too.

1. Hula Hoops are Amazing Exercise.

Not only does the activity burn 400-600 calories per hour, but it can be low-impact for anyone with fragile joints. Kids have a very large variety of things they are happy doing for exercise. Adults, however, are harder to please and harder to motivate. Hooping is known for its fun, addictive qualities. It will keep us healthy and interested. It is known for a great way to lose weight, keep your heart healthy, and tone the muscles.

2. Not all Kids can actually do it.

Some people (clears throat) can't figure out how to hula hoop until they are in their adult years. Some children simply don’t have the patience or passion to do it. When it comes to learning the extensive tricks and combinations of moves, most kids can't quite keep up. It takes some good hand-eye coordination to do most of the tricks.

3. Happy Adults Make a Happy World!

If you really think about it, miserable adults can create a miserable environment. This can be at work, at home, or out in public. I think most people would rather spend time around happy and positive people. Hooping is amazing for creating good moods and more stable individuals. It is known to improve depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Adults need to play and laugh just like kids do. We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.

4. Adult Hoops

Walmart and general department store hula hoops are not the only hoops out there. Those are made for kids and are not made to last long. If you search amazon.com or etsy.com and type in “beginner hoop” or “exercise hoop”, you will find much larger, thicker, heavier hoops. These hoops are specifically made for teens and adults. They usually range between $15 and $40 but will last for a very long time if used correctly. The types and variations of hula hoops may surprise you if you look hard enough. (Hint: search for Smart Hoops)

5. Hooping can be Sexy!

Although most hoopers don’t participate in hooping for this reason, it still can be sexy. Hoops stick to the skin better than it sticks to clothing. Many hoopers wear little clothing in order to get the hoop to stay up. That along with the gyrating of the hips/body while it is on the body makes it sexy for adults. If you don’t intend to make your hooping look sexy, it likely won’t. However, it can be easily tweaked to get that effect.

6. Hooping Helps you meet New People

Once we leave high school and/or college, it becomes harder to meet new people. Hooping gives us a place to meet people with the same goals and interests. Not everyone wants to go to the bar or the club in order to socialize. Hooping gives adults a very healthy and enjoyable activity to do with other interested adults.

7. Hooping can cause Bruising

If you know a hooper, you will notice they have some pretty nasty colored bruises in really strange places. This is especially true if they just started and are using a HUGE beginner hoop. The tricks that teen and adult hoopers learn are known to produce bruises and some pain. Don't be alarmed, it is TOTALLY worth it!

8. Hooping gets you High

That’s right, you can get high from hula hooping. This feeling is similar to the “runner’s high” and is experienced most intensely when a hooper finds “flow” in this activity. As one becomes skilled and very familiar with their hooping, they can experience the flow variation of the hooper’s high. The other type of “hooper high” is when you finally achieve a new trick or movement after working on it for a long period of time. This type is the most common. Both types of hooper highs can last for hours.

9. Relate to Children

If you have kids or know other people’s kids but can’t quite relate to them, hooping is the perfect solution. Some people simply can’t find a way to get kids’ attention. In addition, you will have MUCH more energy to keep up with kids if you start hooping. You will likely be in the best shape of your life after 6 months to a year. Kids may actually sit down and watch you for a while, rather than the other way around.

10. FIRE hoops!

That’s right, hula hoops don’t just come in plain cheap plastic. They can be built to be set on fire using fire wicks that look like marshmallows on a short stick. The wicks are made from a material called “Kevlar” and they are dipped in specific types of fuel in order to be lit on fire. Fire hooping takes practice, focus, a spotter, and other precautions. You won’t see kids fire hooping (we hope).

If you are not familiar with hooping or hoop dance, do some research. You will be surprised!

I hope you like my first blog post! Find me on google plus, facebook, youtube, hooptricks.org, and other places on the internet.