by Shaz Slaughter

Created on: January 02, 2009

Trying to get that midsection in shape but don't like doing crunches. Do you want to tighten up your abs, but you are tired of doing exercises on the floor that hurt your back. Have you tried all sorts of complicated machines and still can't get that rock hard core you have always wanted. Maybe it is time to go back to your childhood and get yourself a hula hoop.

With a hula hoop not only will you strengthen and tone your stomach, but you will also tone your lower back and strengthen your hips. When you rotate a hula hoop around your waist you have to keep your abs engaged in order to keep the hoop from falling and your hips and lower back also have to work.

The other benefits of using a hula hoop include better posture, improved balance and even an increase in agility and with this simple plastic toy you also get a cardiovascular workout. Because you are engaging and using so many different muscle groups at the same time you also have the benefit of burning far more calories than you would with just simple sit-ups or crunches.

The first thing you need to do is find a hula hoop. Now if you have not ever used a hula hoop before you may want to get a bigger hoop. The bigger the hoop the easier it is to use. You want it to be easy to use so that you don't get discouraged. The larger exercise hoops that you find in sports equipment stores are a little more expensive than the smaller alternatives you could buy in a toy store, but if you are a beginner you might want to consider paying the extra money.

Now that we have a hoop it is time to get started. Stand inside of the hoop and hold it so the hoop is against your lower back. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart. You may want to move your hand placement around on the hula hoop to find the most comfortable spot.

Hold the hoop parallel to the ground and spin the hoop around your waist. While the hoop is spinning shift your weight from one leg to the other and rocking your hips. Timing will be and issue at first but do not give up.

It may take a few times of you dropping the hoop to get the feel, but once you do the rest is easy. Time your self once you start becoming proficient to see how long you can keep the hoop from hitting the ground.

If you think you are already pretty good with a hula hoop and you want to take it to the next level try a weighted hoop. They look like a regular hula hoop but they are thicker and are filled with liquid or are made of heavier material to add weight.

The best thing about a hula hoop workout is you can get in shape and still do other things like talk on the phone or watch television.

Remember to take your time and not to overdo your workouts with a hula hoop, especially weighted hoops. Because using a hula hoop seems more like a fun game than a hard workout it is easy to do too much and over work your muscles so limit your workout to less than 30 minutes especially if you are a beginner.

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