Hattie, her sister Phoebe, and I were shopping the other day when we were turned on to the latest “craze” in adult fitness – hula hoops – or “hooping” as it is called. This was something that I loved to do as a kid, and I am desperate to find something recreational I enjoy doing that doesn’t hurt all over. So I went to my favorite place, Google, and started my research on hooping.
What I found was that hoops for adults aren’t cheap – anywhere from $15 – $50 for adults. I found out that the reason why adults have a hard time hooping is because the hoops one buys at the discount or toy stores are sized for kids. The smaller the hoop in relation to your waist size, the faster you have to move to keep it up, so adults need a larger hoop. Adults who are heavy around the middle need an even larger hoop. There might even be a formula for determining the exact diameter for optimal hoop size, but I haven’t found it, yet. I also found out that “fitness” hoops are weighted – anywhere from 3-5#.
So my goal was to find a hoop that was somewhere between my waist and shoulders. I did. It cost about $35 and goes together in sections (presumably to break down, but the design really doesn’t allow that) and weighs 3#. I bought it, brought it home and put it together thinking that I would “get” the rhythm back. I can keep it up for a minute or two, but I haven’t been able to push through the pain of it hitting my body. So now I’m bruised from my waist to my feet and I can only keep it up for about a minute. That’s frustrating.
Further research revealed that beginners should start with a larger hoop that is light in weight. Many people make their own hoops from polycarbonate tubing – irrigation tube. It’s sold in 10′ lengths (too short) and 100′ lengths (enough for about 8 hoops). It also comes in 2 strengths: 100dpi and 160dpi. 100 dpi makes a light hoop that is best for beginners and children.
I was finally able to find 100dpi 3/4″ tubing at Lowes, after getting no help from the salesperson who looked at me like I was crazy. BTW, I get a lot of that. I had to buy a PVC cutter and some fittings. That was about $42 for the whole thing.
So now I’m up to around $75 in hooping costs, have a broken coffee pot (used to hold hot water to insert the fitting), and can still only keep it up for a minute or two. I have made 2 hoops. I’m not able to keep them up for as long as I would like, but I feel more hopeful when hooping with the larger of the 2 hoops I’ve made.
The weighted hoop is going back to Dicks. I can’t ever imagine getting to the place where I will like the feeling of 3# hitting my waist, and if I do, I’ll make my own torture device.
I’ve got enough to make 5 or 6 more hula hoops. If anyone is interested, I can make you your very own custom-sized beginner hula hoop. All I want is to recoup the cost of materials.
And if anyone is interested in getting together to do some hooping, I’m game. At the very least you might find yourself wildly entertained watching me.
i see this is an old post, but for anyone who comes through here – know that when you start, you shouldn’t hoop for more than a couple minutes at a time. after a while of practicing this (as much as a few weeks), you won’t get bruised anymore.
my first week, i was frustrated and overdid it and ended up with egg sized bruises on my hips. i don’t get them anymore.
have fun!