What Are Hula Hoops?
Hula hoops are simple hoops that are kept around the waist by swinging the hips in a hula-like motion. Although hula hoops became a cultural craze during the 1950s, the toy actually dates back much earlier. While modern versions are made of plastic tubing, originally hula hoops were formed from rattan, grapevines, or stiff grasses, among other natural materials.
Using hoops as a toy dates back to ancient Greece and Egypt as well as several Native American cultures, where the hoop dance was used to tell stories. By the eighteenth century, hula hoops for sale toy had become quite common in many cultures, although it had not yet earned its name. It was not until British sailors visited the islands of Hawaii during the early nineteenth century that the hoop toy became associated with traditional hula dancing, which involves a similar movement of the hips.
Origin Of A Hula Hoop
The first modern hula hoop was made of bamboo, and was sold in 1957 only in Australia. When the supplier could not produce enough of these bamboo hula hoops to meet the high demand found with this toy, Alex Tolmer of Toltoys began producing plastic hoops. Over 400,000 plastic hula hoops were sold in Australia by Toltoys in 1957 alone. In 1958, novelty toy company Wham-O marketed the hula hoop in the United States, with over 25 million sold in the first four months and 100 million sold during the year. The hula-hoop workout fad only lasted a few months, but by the time it was over, millions of hula hoops were sold, and they had gained their place in cultural history.
Incidentally, the timing of the 1950s hula hoop craze coincided with the popularity of tiki collectibles throughout the United States. One of the immense things about hula hoop exercise is that they target those really difficult areas to tone. Soldiers who had been stationed in Hawaii and on other islands in the Pacific returned from World War II with an interest in the cultures they had experienced. As a result, hundreds of tiki-themed restaurants opened, and related decor became quite popular for the home. The hula hoop craze fit right in with this environment.
Modern hula hoops range from a plastic child’s toy to elaborate hoops designed for dancing adults. They may have LED lights or unique designs; some, called fire hoops, can even be lit on fire. This technique often draws from native fire dancing traditions from cultures around the world dating back centuries. Modern hula hoops for adults are often heavier than the child-sized counterpart to allow for more difficult technical moves that require additional momentum. Today, hula hoops are also popular at tiki parties and other tropical-themed events.
You know the places that we are talking about. These are usually the trouble areas that everyone wants to work on and using a hula hooping targets all of them at once. You can’t beat that! It is one simple piece of exercise equipment that works all of the areas at once. Now you know what you may be thinking. Using a hoop is hard. Don’t just be in a worry of how to hula hoop. You never could get them to work when you were a kid but today it is a different story. In order to take advantage of the benefits of using a hula, you are going to need a weighted hula hoop. They really make hooping so much easier.
Different Weighted Hula Hoops For Different Age Groups
You need to choose a hula hoop based on your size. If you stand the hula on its side, it should come up somewhere between your hips and chest. The next thing to determine is your weight.
1) For Kids 60 pounds and under – Choose a 1 Pound Weighted HoopFor adults and teens weighing 60 – 100 Pounds – Choose a 2 Pound Weighted Hoop
2) For adults weighing 100 – 160 Pounds – Choose a 3 Pound Weighted Hoop
3) For adults and teens weighing 100 – 200 pounds – Choose a 4 Pound Weighted HoopFor adults and teens 120 – 300 pounds – Choose a 5 Pound Weighted Hula Hoop
If you are just starting out, then get a hoop that is the correct size for your weight. As you master this hoop then you can get a lighter weight hoop for even more of a workout.
If you’re looking for a great way to tone your midsection then a weighted hula hoop is exactly what you are looking for. There is only 1 hula hoop exercise that you need to do. Simply twirl it around your waist. You don’t need to get fancy or anything. That’s it. So you don’t need to get complicated and use many hula hoop exercises… you only need 1 hula hoops for sale. Just do this 1 exercise during TV commercials everyday for about 20 minutes. Weighted hula hoops are different than regular hula hoops. For one they are much easier to use. They can help sculpt and tone even the most difficult areas.
