Hula hooping was once for kids but now it’s for anyone who wants to be fit and have fun. Sheryl Wilson is a certified personal trainer. After hearing about a new exercise trend that uses hula hooping to supplement a cardio workout, she became a certified hula hoop instructor. I recently joined Sheryl for a class in Central Park to see what all the hype was about.

Young children, expecting mothers and middle-aged men and women all participated as Sheryl led a class that exercised muscles from head to toe. Besides the conventional hooping style, where you have the hoop circle your waist, Sheryl taught participants how to hoop with their arms, legs and even neck, which incorporates and exercises a number of muscles. The workout is effective partially because the hoops used have added weight to them, differentiating them from the hoops bought at your typical toy store.

According to Sheryl, any type of athlete could benefit from hooping as it helps strengthen many muscles including the core and is simple enough for those who are just looking for a fun and easy way to exercise. Appealing to a wide range of people, it is no surprise that hula hooping for fitness has begun to develop its own community, as hoopers from coast to coast share new moves through the internet and people within a city congregate to enjoy the experience together. With Sheryl at the helm of New York’s newest fitness phenomena, residents of the Big Apple are smiling as they hula hoop their way to a healthier lifestyle.

For more information check out Sheryl’s website at www.fitnotic.com

-Lauren Brill