Hula hoop fitness: I swung my hips every day for a month – with this result

Even the next few days, I really do always find between 20 and 40 minutes for my workout, and each time it’s even more fun. I actively look around for workouts with hula hoops on the internet to bring variety into the routine. But sometimes I just feel like turning on the TV and doing it while I do it. Rarely has it been so easy for me to incorporate fitness into my daily routine.

After a week, though, I had to take a day off. Bruises have formed around the hips and the abdominal soreness is also enormous – but all normal at the beginning of hula hoop fitness.

These are the 5 best hula hoop exercises

In fact, the sports equipment is versatile, and there are different ways in which it can be used. These are my five favourites:

1. hula hoop exercise: torso rotation.

Grab the hoop with both arms in the middle at the outermost points and raise your arms vertically to shoulder height. Now move from the centre to the right and then to the left. Always keep the torso tense. A great exercise to additionally strengthen the body’s core.

2nd Hula Hoop Exercise: Steps

If you are confident enough, you can also do steps forward and backward with my hula hoop. Here’s how: swing the hoop as usual. Once you’re confident, keep taking three steps forward and back again for about a minute. And of course, keep circling the hoop.

3. hula hoop exercise: arms circling

With this exercise you train additionally the coordination (and also the arms). During the hula hoop fitness session, stretch your arms out to the side and let them circle. This can take some practice – but it’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.

4th Hula Hoop Exercise: Jumping Squats

Place the hula hoop on the floor and behind it. Now jump into the hoop with a jump, do squats and jump out the back again. Very effective if you also want to integrate a short leg workout into the workout.

5. hula hoop exercise: dips

The hoop is still on the floor. Lie behind the hoop and lift your legs bent so that the soles of your feet hover above the circle. Now alternately lower one foot and briefly tap the floor. The perfect abdominal exercise for those who want to step it up a notch.

Hula hoop fitness is really that effective

After three weeks, I already notice how I walk straighter and my posture has improved. My core feels firmer and more stable. The workout also seems to be effective against lower back pain, at least I haven’t had any discomfort since I started my test. On average, I swing my hips for about 20 to 30 minutes a day.

To really break a sweat and burn calories, you should do a holistic workout that combines hula hooping with other exercises (like the ones mentioned above). All in all, I find hula hoop fitness totally effective because it’s perfect for a stressful workday, doesn’t really feel like exercise, and in any case, you always feel like you’ve done something anyway. Win-win, in my opinion. So I will definitely continue to do it. Best investment in an athletic activity I’ve ever made. As often as I do hula hoop fitness now, I’ve never been to a gym – and that’s saying something.

For more on Beauty Editor Melanie Paukner, check out her Instagram account @melaniepaukner