Did you know that most who hoop use their hips to hoop rather than their core? DVD’s promote their workouts as a great core strengthening, yet don’t teach how to move from the core. Spinning the hoop is not enough. One must learn isometric work to isolate and integrate the muscles along the spine. Similar to Pilates, the hoop can have great benefits with retraining the body on how to move correctly, safely and efficiently.

You can lose some weight and feel your core working from other classes and dvds. I get calls each month on chronic pain that develops from taking others trainings, classes and dvds. In 2000, I started studying the effects of unilateral rotation and how to use the hoop the right way, to get maximum benefits.

I worked with chirporactors, physical therapists and sport trainers. I studied the body mechanics of belly dancers, hoop dancers, skiers, cyclists, golfers and how people stand. From this, I developed a method that targets and corrects bad posture. This proved to be an easy and effective way to prevent injury, increase range of motion, flexibility and strength between the musculoskelatal system.

I teach to many hoop performers and hoop ‘teachers’ who complain about twisted ribs & hips. This would not occur if they were really using their core. I then retrain their movements inside and outside of the hoop by isolating the muscles from the bones. We practice pushing the belly into the hoop without moving the hips. Then rocking the hips side to side or back and forth without using the belly. I target the top 5 mistakes due to bad posture.  Some will hyper extend in the knees which lock out the hips, some will have an S curve in the lower back which stresses the low back more and prevents them from engaging their core and some will propel the hoop’s motion by using the their whole torso rather than their core. This stressed the lower back and hips too.

I am shooting 3 new 30 minute DVDs this June which will educate the body on how to move safely and effectively.  Pro skiers, kayakers, yoga instructors and chiropractors will join me in teaching how to retrain the body to maximum health and fitness – from the inside out.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at 12:14 pm and is filed under Hoop News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.