Hula Hoop Workout: "Hoopnastics" Ballet-Inspired Leg Toning Workout Video

http://hotandhealthyliving.com/2010/06/hoopnastics-standing-exercises-15-minu...

Last week I introduced a workout program I developed called "Hoopnastics" that uses a huge and slightly weighted --but inexpensive-- "fitnesss" hoop as the only piece of equipment (you can watch the video intro by clicking HERE and read the article recently featured in the Examiner HERE). I'm not the only one hooping it up these days either! Celebrities like Marisa Tomei are discovering how fun (and effective!) hula-hoop workouts can be for getting fit.

What is Hoopnastics?

Hoopnastics is a fun, no-impact series of exercises using a fitness hoop to incorporate interval training with resistance training. It's basically a circuit training workout...with a twist. The unique exercise method fuses legendary fitness techniques from ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, pilates and yoga to firm, lengthen, and shape your body while creating superb balance, posture, flexibility and endurance. Hoopnastics works joints through a full range of motion to keep your body limber and flexible while the controlled movements and weight bearing exercises strengthen and tone every major muscle in your body. It's fitness program that can be adapted to all ages (from 25 to 65!) and all fitness levels. And, it's a great workout for breaking through a fitness plateau because it works your muscles in totally new and challenging ways.

How Can Doing Hoopnastics Help You Get You Fit?

Because hoopnastics is basically a circuit training workout, it combines cardiovascular conditioning with muscle conditioning exercises. The "hooping cardio-core" segments provide a completely no-impact cardio component that burns calories and fat while simultaneously targeting the notoriously neglected transverse abdominal muscles with the "drawing in maneuver". Training your transverse abdominal muscles improves spinal stability and helps flatten your abs...fast. The Hoopnastics muscle conditioning exercises are dynamic no-impact movements that not only burn calories, but simultaneously build metabolism-boosting lean muscle mass. By fusing flexibility training with firming exercises your body is lengthened, tightened and toned from head to toe.

What is the Hoopnastics Workout Routine?

I teach Hoopnastics as a 30-minute workout divided into 2 parts: PART 1 is a 15 minute "Hooping cardio-core" workout that alternates between segments of hooping-cardio core intervals and standing lower body strength and balance exercises blending moves from ballet and yoga incorporating the sports hoop. PART 2 is a 15 minute toning and lengthening pilates-inspired mat workout incorporating the sports hoop for
lying down and seated core exercises plus an intense arm toning sequence using resistance bands attached to the hoop. The workout ends with deep muscle toning exercises for the glutes and thighs and a stretching routine that uses the sports hoop.

15 Minute Ballet-Inspired Leg Toning Workout

This week I thought I'd share some of the standing ballet-inspired floor exercises from the Hoopnastics workout program (if you don't have a hoop you can use a chair for balance but if you want to buy the hoop I suggest getting it from Hoopnotica). These ballet-inspired exercises work your muscles from many different angles and help develop strength and tone, but not bulk. Most of the standing exercises are done on one leg, which dramatically increases the intensity of the exercise by adding an instability component. By performing the standing exercises on one leg you immediately engage your core. You also simultaneously bring many more stabilizer muscles into play that support each main muscle group and help you stay balanced. By recruiting all of these tiny stabilizer muscles that surround your major muscles, you'll be able to achieve fabulous muscle tone...in a very short amount of time!

Best of all, this routine is fun and totally different than what you are probably used to doing...which is perfect for boosting your fitness to a whole new level!

To learn more about Hoopnastics visit Ivy Larson at http://www.hotandhealthyliving.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• ballet style leg workout
• circuit training leg workout

[Splatball]

So... Basically, its a workout that you could do without a hoolahoop, but now, with an over sized hoop? The hoolahoop tends to kinda, you know, sit there. couldn't you use a chair back for exactly the same results?

[frumples143]

I can see how that was ballet inspired, but if it's supposed to be authentic you might want to have a little turnout.

[TiNYKITTIES]

@Splatball I think that part of the challenge is the light grip on the hoop, you're using it for light balance, which helps engage your whole body. A chair back would be much more stable and make the workout easier, although I'm sure the difference is small.

[ZaraFabregas]

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[ZaraFabregas]

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[fattiecane]

so where is the rest of this series??

[AlternativeRobbie]

This is great. I've been hooping for a few months and summer is just rolling around now, i want to get my thighs nice and toned so I can feel good in a pair of short shorts! Thanks for the video!!

[AlternativeRobbie]

@Splatball I think the reason they made this is for people who already hoop dance who want to do some extra excersizing, I'm into hoop dancing but I want to tone my legs up. I already have a hoop which around this size, it's used for adult fitness and dance. So really it isn't over-sized at all. 

[oliviaolas]

whoaaaaaa this seems super fun. but I dont know if I have enough space inmy apt for this workout. but I want to try a weighted hoop workout. I have to try this cute!

[asyryda]

Hey thanks so much, it's always great to get new ideas! Love your hooping space too!