What are weighted hula hoops?

We all remember the regular hoop from the childhood playground but what is a weighted hula hoop? The name is a dead giveaway, weighted hula hoops are bigger and heavier than a traditional hoop! Used in fitness classes to help provide variety but also give a strong cardio workout. Only a few minutes a day with a core balance hoop can give you an intense cardio workout, activating the core and hip muscles in the process! Weighted hula hoops are fun and can be utilised as a form of exercise for people of all ages and sex, there are also several added benefits to hooping such as improved balance, hand-eye coordination & muscle memory.

Some of the benefits of weighted hoops are:

Increase cardiovascular fitness - When you use a weighted hula hoop you find a steady rhythm with your body and the movement of the hoop. During this process, your heart rate increases, blood flow increases and the lungs work harder! This increase in our cardiovascular fitness lowers diabetes & heart disease risk whilst improving brain functions, cholesterol levels, and overall fitness.

Burning tummy fat - Hooping requires your core muscles to be activated to get the hoop to spin across your waist and hips, in this process your burning tummy fat. The consistent back and forth motion in the weighted hula hoop activates core muscles, do this for 5 minutes and you will be burning away tummy fat and lose weight.

Trims your waistline - Burn away those love handles with a smart hoop! A study conducted in 2015 followed 13 women who regularly used a weighted hula hoop, the results found that over a 6-week period the women lost 3.4cm of fat around their waist and a further 1.4cm across the hips. It's no surprise, the motion of spinning your weighted hula hoop is consistently activating your core and hip muscles, helping to burn calories in those targeted areas.

Relax your mind - The motion of spinning a weighted hula hoop is a fun and relaxing activity. The consistent motion of your hips forward and back places you in a hypnotic, zen state, where your sensory are focused on maintaining the hula whilst your other everyday thoughts of the past and future melt away. Being present in the moment like this is known as mindfulness and is associated with meditation. So next time you feel stressed or depressed try out a weighted hula hoop for 5 minutes, guarantee you will feel refreshed and in an overall better mood, don't believe us? Check out some of our reviews and read for yourself.

Strengthen back muscles & improve posture - If you have slouched shoulder and poor posture you will suffer from several issues later in life. The best way to improve posture is to strengthen the back muscles! When using a weighted hula hoop you are activating the muscle in your back, this also promotes blood flow to the spine. As your back muscles strengthen you will find it easier and more natural to have a better posture.

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How long should you use a weighted hula hoop?

For first-timers to weighted hooping, it's best to start with 5 minutes on a 1.6 -2kg hoop, 5 times a day for two weeks before building up the time frame another 5 minutes. After a few months, you will find you can hula for 20 - 30 minutes without the need for a break! Once you build up to this fitness level you can move onto a weighted hula hoop at 5kg heavy. Repeat the process, starting at 5 mins and building up to 30mins, then move once again onto a heavier hoop.

Are Weighted Hula Hoops Safe?

In most cases using a weighted hula hoop Australia is 100% safe to use. It's always important to use the correct size that is appropriate for your weight, fitness level and overall strength. If you are unsure, it's always best to go for something lighter than a heavier hoop, this will also ensure little to no bruising occurs. If you feel uncomfortable or in pain when hooping then stop immediately.