TIRED OF THE SAME OLD CARDIO? TRY HOOPING!

 

 YO MAX,

I can’t stand cardio. I like sports and even riding my bike outdoors but when it’s freezing cold in the winter I’m forced to get on the treadmill or stationary bike and get so bored I only do about 10 or 15 minutes. Any suggestions?

Danielle, Conshohocken

YO DANIELLE,

I feel for you. I can’t stand the ‘Dreadmill’ and have always been amazed that some people actually prefer it to running outdoors!? Even in the summer I see the treadmills filled when we have a running path just two blocks from the gym…?

As for alternatives to trudging along indoors when it’s 20 degrees outside and the wind is gusting to 30 mph, you do have some good options. Most gyms offer a variety of classes – spinning, circuit/cross training, kickboxing, yoga, pilates, boot camp, etc. Or, you could try ‘Hooping’.

I’d heard of this, relatively new, form of exercise/cross training/dance but hadn’t actually seen it performed until recently.

Admittedly, I’m skeptical about ‘new forms of exercise’ because so many prove to be poor substitutes for tried and true training like weight lifting, yoga, and cycling, or they’re just gimmicks and soon fade into the exercise scrap heap – which is where they belong. ‘Hooping’, or ‘Hoop Dance’ is quite a different story showing, what I believe is, great potential as an alterative to traditional cardio modalities and cardio classes.

This is a whole lot more than the childhood image we all have of standing in our respective backyards and clumsily swinging a pink or yellow hoop around our waists until we got fed up with watching it clank to the ground and moved on to the swing set. We’re talking about complex movements that utilize our whole bodies, with limitless possibilities and intricate patterns. It’s graceful, sensual - more like dancing and requires practice, skill building, and patience. And it’s a lot of fun.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting two real practitioners of this ‘art’, Jeremiah Lusby and his partner, Marlenah Barker. I was very impressed with their skill and passion for this unusual and quite beautiful form of exercise and interviewed them both to get a better understanding of what, exactly, someone new to the sport might experience and how they could benefit.

Max: How did you guys get involved in Hooping?

M: I attended a warehouse party about three years ago where there was an arts performance piece done by a girl doing amazing things with hoops and I said, ‘I want to learn how to do that’.

J: (laughs) On our second date, Marlenah introduced me to hooping and I loved it right away. I was bored with traditional forms of exercise and found it both fun and challenging.

Max: How would you compare Hooping to other forms of exercise?

M: I describe Hooping to my students as exercise, creative movement, and fun. There’s a lot of laughter in my classes.

J: It really is fun and the first form of exercise that I didn’t find monotonous – as soon as I started I couldn’t stop. But it’s also hard work – we sweat a lot.

Max: Do you consider Hooping to be safe for all ages and for people who might have physical limitations?

M: As with any form of exercise we want you to be cleared by your doctor but yes I think it’s very safe for most people and I’ve had many students experience dramatic recoveries from injuries both chronic and acute.

Max: What possible injuries should a person be concerned about?

J: When you’re first learning you can get some bruising and soreness on your hips or where ever the hoop is spinning. Because of repetitive stress it can irritate the skin and muscle tissue. But it’s pretty minor and not a big deal.

M: Piriformis Syndrome is a condition that sometimes occurs with dancers or with excessive Hooping in which the Piriformis muscle irritates the sciatic nerve causing pain in the glutes and can radiate down the leg. But it’s important to note that if you learn proper technique, which includes mastering movement of the hoop if both directions, we call it, ‘equal time in both currents’, warm up and cool down, and build your skills gradually you should have very few problems.

Max: Do you guys perform?

J: We perform at parties, music festivals, clubs, and concerts.

M: You might find us at a club up on a platform or on the dance floor performing through out the night as part of the ambiance.

Max: How does a person get the right hoop? What should they look for in terms of quality and size?

M: The hoops we all used as children are basically toys - too small, light and flimsy for adult Hooping. When you stand the hoop on it’s end it should reach to between your naval and sternum. Good hoops are made of much heavier plastic and are very durable. I make and sell custom hoops for my clients and supply them for my classes.

Watching this talented pair perform was inspiring. They move gracefully and with precision. Agility, balance, flexibility, strength, core work, and coordination all come into play with this new and exciting form of exercise and I can see how people of all ages and fitness levels could learn, have fun, get fit, and be challenged.

We are excited to have Jeremiah and Marlenah teach a new class at The Conshohocken Health and Fitness Club beginning this month! Please call, 610-941-4515, for more details. To reach then directly call 570-556-6869 and visit www.youtube.com and search, c0ehlo, to see some very cool demonstrations.