Q&A for How to Hula Hoop

Hula hooping definitely has some benefits, even if it’s not the most intense workout. While there aren't specific studies on how many calories you burn doing it, anything that gets you moving will help burn some calories. It’s a fun way to get your body moving, especially your trunk and hips. You’ll get some good rotation and hip work, which can be really helpful for improving your hip flexibility, especially if you have really tight hips. Hula hooping is not going to be a major strength builder or toning exercise, but it’s great for improving your range of motion and loosening up those areas.

Assuming that you’re using a weighted hula hoop (the right sort for exercising with), and you are doing both hooping moves and twists around arms, legs and waist, an American Council on Exercise study found that you will burn around 7 calories a minute. For an hour, that works out to be around 420 calories--not bad if you can keep it up for the whole hour!

Yes, it is a good way to exercise, especially for toning and strengthening the waist area muscles. Just hula hooping for fun is itself good exercise and an excuse to enjoy your exercise, while for the greatest benefits, it's a good idea to use weighted hula hoops for a good workout, as well as following a workout routine designed especially for hula hoops.

It certainly can do so, by toning your muscles in the waist area. Just be aware that to obtain the slimming effects, you will need to follow the correct hula hoop exercises to encourage both strengthening and toning. Check out How to Hula Hoop to Lose Weight for some details on how to slim your waist using a hula hoop.

Yes, it helps you to get in shape and forms your abdominal muscles. But for better results, it's good to combine hula hooping with some kind of strength training.

It depends on how often you practice and how you do it. No, your body shape does not matter. It's just a matter of time.

Hooping greatly improves your core muscles, so you can be better at things like sit ups. It also increases your endurance.

Because the movement looks like a hula dance and the circular shape of the object is a hoop.

Your hoop should reach from the ground up to your belly button or the bottom of your chest.

You can hula the hoop on your arm. You can try putting the hoop on the ground and walking with it. Place it on one of your feet and with the other foot, jump over. Try not to touch it!

Make sure your first spin is firm and fast, then push forward and backward from your waist in a fast enough motion to keep the hoop going. Stand up tall; do not hunch forward or let your knees bend too much. Make sure your hoop is large enough.

If you're a beginner, just pick it up with your hands and try again. If you are advanced, then you can try to pick it up with your feet.

Yes, it does.The average person burns 210 calories in a half hour session. It also tones your muscles.

The amount you are comfortable with. It depends on how much you weigh. But do not push yourself and do as much as you want to.

This is a great question for your doctor! It depends on a lot of factors that would be specific to your case, so it would be impossible to answer here.

You have to keep practicing.

Sure, any size works. Remember, though, the bigger it is, the easier it will be to use.

As your hoop slides down, move faster--especially when it gets to your knees. It will slowly move back up again.

You can hula hoop whenever your schedule permits it.

Move it side to side because it will make the hoop not fall. If you move it circular, it will just make it harder for you to keep the hoop up.

You just need to move your hips to the motion of the hula hoop, and the contact it makes with you, if done in time, will keep it up. Just keep practicing.

It depends on your weight, how intensely you're hooping, etc. You would burn somewhere around 7 calories per minute though.

Yes, it can because it can burn a lot of calories.

Yes! Your size and shape don't matter. You just need to practice.

Yes, a hula hoop exercise workout can help you to lose weight and tone your midsection.

Yes, you can. It's just that the process is a little more comfortable with shoes on. Also, it reduces the chances of getting hurt if the hoop falls on your feet.