How to Hula-Hoop

Hula-hooping isn't just for kids. It's a fun and exciting way to stay in shape.

You Will Need

* Athletic clothing

* A hula-hoop

* Ample room

* Upbeat music (optional)

Step 1: Wear athletic clothes

Wear form-fitting athletic clothing. Baggy or loose clothing may slow the hula hoop's rotation.

Step 2: Get it going

With one foot in front of you, place the hoop against your back at waist height, wind it back, and then push it firmly counter-clockwise.

Choose a hoop whose diameter reaches from the ground to between your waist and mid-chest. Larger hoops rotate more slowly and are easier for beginners.

Step 3: Push and shift

Push your stomach forward with a pumping motion as the hoop rolls across your stomach and back as it moves across your back. Shift your weight between your front and back legs.

Step 4: Find your direction

Spin the hoop in the opposite direction to find which direction feels natural. Right-handed people usually prefer rotating the hoop counter-clockwise, while lefties prefer clockwise.

Step 5: Speed up and slow down

Shift your weight between your feet more quickly or pump your torso faster back and forth to increase rotation speed.

Use a heavier, weighted hoop for a more intense workout and a smaller, lighter hoop for doing tricks.

Step 6: Turn your body

Slowly turn your body in the direction that the hoop is spinning, taking small steps as the hoop hits your back.

Join a hoop-dancing class to increase your hooping skills and to interact with fellow hoopers.

Step 7: Booty bump

Experiment with tricks like the booty bump: slow the rotation of the hoop until it rolls down just below your hips, then speed up to keep the hoop rotating there.

Fact: The Hula-Hoop was introduced in 1958 and took the nation by storm with an estimated 100 million hoops sold in four months.