Eef de Nooijer, 38, is hooked on hula hooping. "Since I started, my chronic back pain is gone, and that stubborn belly roll has vanished too!"
Her physical therapist suggested hula hooping to ease her back issues. "Hula hooping?" she wondered. She struggled with it as a child, but figured it couldn't be that hard as an adult.
"It was tougher than I thought at first! But I'm persistent. After three weeks of consistent practice, I mastered it—and now I absolutely love it."
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"Hula hooping eliminated my back pain by strengthening my core muscles. Plus, it tackled that frustrating belly roll so many women deal with."
"It's pure joy—a chance to clear your mind and move freely. Do it anywhere: dance around the living room to upbeat music, hoop while binge-watching Netflix, or enjoy it outdoors with a friend on sunny days."
Hula hooping targets your core, back, and abs effectively. As a beginner, start with 5 minutes daily, then progress to three 25-minute sessions per week.
Hoops vary by weight and type—hard or soft. From my experience, a soft 1.8 kg hoop is ideal. It minimizes bruising, and studies confirm this weight is perfect for beginners and ongoing training.
Eef works in disability care and founded Project Postmaat, combating loneliness through heartfelt mail for sick children and those in need. Learn more at postmaat.nl.
Questions on hula hooping techniques? Check her Instagram: @eef_bodyhoop.
Image: Courtesy of Eef
