The New York Times reports on what may be the next fitness fad, the hula hoop. It looks like actress Marisa Tomei is the activity’s biggest booster.
LIKE millions of Americans, Marisa Tomei used to play with a Hula-Hoop as a child. And like most of those same Americans, she hadn’t hooped since.
That is, not until two and a half years ago, when a friend asked her to come to a hooping class in Los Angeles. Ms. Tomei, the Academy Award-winning actress, was instantly hooked.
What is not to like about hula hooping? They’re colorful and fun.
“You just can’t help but laugh and smile when you’re hooping,” she said.
So, is the hula hoop the next big thing? Maybe not. Hula hoop was a phenomenon years ago. Where fads are concerned lightning doesn’t usually strike twice.
“My gut tells me it will be a personal tool to use occasionally in fitness, like a medicine ball — I think it will be a fad,” said Neal Pire, an exercise physiologist and a fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine.
That’s fine. So it may not turn out to be the next big thing. But still, it can be something fun to do. It can bring out a little of the kid in all of us.
And it has the advantage of being low impact. So you can shape up that midsection without worrying about stress on your joints.
There is a point to this. Lots of people say, “I just don’t like to exercise.” But whether it’s a hula hoop or swimming or biking, there is something that you can do that is fun and healthy and that will bring you closer to your weight loss goal.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/fashion/11FITNESS.html?scp=1&sq=hooping&st=cse
