SpinningHoop.com

The hula hoop has been in use for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. There are many variations and reasons behind the hoop, including both cultural and play.

Perhaps the first known occurrence of a hoop device was those that were in use in Egypt over three thousand years ago. These hoops were made of grape vines and were propelled by sticks on the ground rather than a part of the human body.

The term that we know today, hula hoops, did not come to be until the early part of the eighteenth century when sailors noticed a stark similarity between hoops and the Hawaiian hula dance.

In the United States, hula hoops made their first real appearance in 1958. This is the year that the big toy maker Wham-O released a plastic version of a hoop that children could spin and play with. This was the beginning of a huge fad where the toy maker sold over 100 million of these hoops in only two years. Due to the fact that these hoops had been used over the course of history, no patent could be obtained, but the toy maker still made lots of profit on this simple invention.

Today, these hoops have grown from a child’s toy into a fun and useful tool. While lots of kids still enjoy hooping, many adults have joined in as well. There are fitness classes all over the country that are dedicated to hula hooping and the health benefits that can come from it. By adding moves, such as walking or dancing, you can take your hoop experience to a new level and burn lots of calories at the same time. With so many Americans fighting for weight loss, hooping has become a valid method of exercise.

There are also various competitions around the world that hoopers can participate in. The world record for the longest time spinning a hoop is over ninety hours! Today there is even a hooping world championship that people from all over the globe can participate in.

Beyond the fun factor, the sport does not require the purchase of intense or expensive equipment. You do not need a special trainer in order to learn how to spin a hoop. It simply takes practice and some sort of hoop. These days most people actually make there own hoops. You can find lots of tutorials online that will teach you how to do this. Hula hooping has truly become a niche sport that thousands of people can enjoy.