Getting In The Loop With Hoopnotica's How To DVD
by Michelle
So you want to learn how to hula hoop? Everyone's doing it these days, even celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and Beyonce. Vogue has listed hula hooping as one of their 25 Top Obsessions of 2007. With all this hot press, here at the Daily Mantra we decided to give hula hooping a whirl ourselves, so to speak, by checking out Hoopnotica's Hoopdance Beginning Level 1 instructional DVD.
The DVD features clear vocal and visual instructions, great music and lots of happy people enjoying themselves with their hoops. Starting off with getting the hoop moving around your waist, other moves are introduced gradually, such as adding grapevine dance steps while maintaining the movement of the hoop, and learning how to lift the hoop from your waist to above your head. Stretches and breathing exercises use the hoop itself as a prop and movement guide, and troubleshooting tutorials at the end of each section help you focus on perfecting each move. Hoopnotica also sell beautiful limited-edition or collapsible travel hoops to use with their DVDs. The only thing more fun than learning to hoopdance at home with a DVD is hooping with friends and feeling that joy that radiates within a group when everyone is in their groove. If you're lucky enough to live in southern California, you can check out Hoopnotica's hoopdance classes in person.
Hoopdance is part dance, part exercise and part play. It provides an energizing and effective workout that tones muscles, increases flexibility, improves coordination and strengthens the cardiovascular system. Hoopnotica founder Rayna McInturf explains how: "The basic rule is the faster you hoop, the more you are challenging your cardiovascular endurance. The more slowly you hoop, the more control you must exert, and the greater the resistance. It is truly an exercise that you can control using the hoop as a tool to customize your own workout needs."
Hoopdancing is especially good for the core muscles, the abdominal muscles, and back muscles, all which work to improve posture, whittle the waist, and flatten the tummy. Our verdict? Hoopdance is so much fun it is addictive, and the adult-sized hoops make it easy to learn. So get out there and get your groove on!
