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Hula hooping is a great aerobic activity for all ages. Adding hula hoop exercises to your workout routine can tone and strengthen muscles while burning calories and increasing flexibility.

The hula hoop gained popularity in the 1950's in both the United States and the United Kingdom but its roots trace back much farther. The art of twirling the hoop actually dates back to Ancient Greece and Egypt where hoops had been made out of natural materials like wood, bamboo, and grasses. The plastic toy we are most familiar with was introduced to the public in 14th Century Great Britain. Today, fitness or sports hoops are made from rubber foam, plastics, and/or covered with nylon.

* Benefits of hula hooping.

Anytime you add another level of physical activity to your routine, your body benefits. Hula hooping increases your heart rate allowing your body to burn more calories, which in turn can lead to weight loss. To find your target heart rate for the best workout, use the heart rate calculator available online at healthline.com.

Hula hooping can also improve coordination, circulation, and flexibility. It tones, trims, and strengthens core torso muscles. Strong core muscles help maintain posture, avoid back injuries, and improve balance. Strong core muscles are important to overall physical performance. Hula hooping is not limited to working only the midsection. It is also an effective exercise for sculpting those hard to define upper arms.

* How to hula hoop.

To work the core or the midsection of your body, stand with one foot in front of each other. This is a stronger stance than with your feet side by side. Place the hoop over your head and then rest it against the back of your waist. Gently push it to begin a rotation around your waist. Typically, right-handed people push to the right and left-handed people push to the left. If it is your first time, experiment to determine which direction is most natural.

Shift your weight back and forth to keep the hoop spinning. Rotating your hips to spin the hoop will not help; you want to find a rhythm by weight shifting from your front and back feet. Do not be discouraged if it stops spinning and slides down to the ground. Keep repeating the process until you find your rhythm. After some practice, even if you can't maintain more than a dozen or so rotations, you will be able to "catch" the hoop before it slides down and restart without missing a beat. Need a bit more help? Try a hula hooping classes at your local fitness

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