Work out with a hoop (From Haringey Independent)

Work out with a hoop

9:51am Wednesday 22nd August 2007 in

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With more pressure than ever on living a healthy life and doing plenty of exercise, CARON KEMP tries the latest craze of hooping in Haringey.

Every generation can probably recall a conversation with a parent or grandparent when they were reminded that the 'latest' trend was in fact 'hip' in their day too.

When I told my mother I was starting hooping classes in Hornsey, she delighted in recalling the days when she revolved the psychedelic plastic ring around her midriff. But fast forward a few years and the 50s craze has made a comeback, so I decided to see what it was all about.

Hornsey Parish Church in Cranley Gardens has been hosting the six-week course designed to be "fun, exhilarating, challenging and a terrific way to improve fitness, co-ordination and balance while lifting your spirits".

"Hooping is more than a fitness regime."

Instructor Diana Defries was full of positive thoughts as she told the class: "It's not that you can't do something, it's just that you don't know how yet."

To help our hooping, we were told to liken ourselves to a force of nature and embody it in our movement. I chose heavy rain, and at least attempted to create rainy revolutions, but we weren't embodying nature every session. When asked to be a spice, I chose paprika, and for the fairground ride week I opted for the teacups. Anyway, the mission was to control my hoop and keep it balanced across my belly.

Within minutes we had moved on from the torso (despite not quite having mastered it) and were swirling the hoop above our heads, through our hands, then around our shoulders, knees, ankles and neck. I wasn't aware that hooping is about so much more than the kids' playground activity.

Diana grew up in Muswell Hill and now lives in Wood Green. Before discovering hooping, she trained as a bodybuilder for 16 years and dabbled in ice skating and dancing, including ballet. Then last year she travelled to Los Angeles to train in teaching the sport of hooping, and has since become a certified Bodyhoops teacher.

"I discovered hooping almost accidentally early last summer during an internet search," she says. "I bought my first hoop from America and have been involved with hooping ever since.

"I believe hooping is about self-expression, personal freedom and empowerment. It is more than a fitness regime. All too often in adult life we forget how to play and be creative, just for its own sake. Hooping encourages a change of state where we can experience the joy of being in the moment."

Hooping is a serious sport which works up to 35 core muscles. There are two varieties; hoop dancing and hoop fitness. The former explores movement with the hoop, and the latter focuses on working out, but both help tone the body and improve fitness.

According to Diana, it also exercises the mind. She said: "The more variation you incorporate in your hooping practice, the more of your body is exercised and toned. Other benefits include improved balance and co-ordination; enhanced flexibility and increased energy levels; a feeling of inner calm; a sense of joy and happiness and increased self-esteem. Hooping encourages laughter, smiles and play."

Despite consistently leaving the class bruised and still baffled how anyone's ribs can move independently of their waists, the course definitely delivered everything promised. It takes longer than six weeks to master the variety of intricate techniques, but the course gives an interesting and sometimes hilarious taster.

As Diana said: "If we dismiss beneficial activities like hooping because we consider them 'childish', we deny ourselves the freedom of simply being in our own space and in the now.

Children tend to enjoy life much more than adults, possibly because they live much more in the moment. Give it a whirl and you'll find out why."

A new series, Hula Hooping For Fitness And Fun starts on August 29 at the church. For more information visit www.hoopswhirled.co.uk.