Hula-hoops, we all had them growing up and probably underestimated the health benefits from using them. Celebrities like Marisa Tomei, Michelle Obama, Liv Tyler have all admitting to be being fans of hula-hoop workout routines.

Marisa Tomei

It was until Marissa Tomei attended a hula-hoop workout class in L.A where she really fell in love with hula-hooping in preparing for her role in the film, Wrestler. She told NY Times, “You just can’t help but laugh and smile when you’re hooping”. Hula-hooping works out your core and abdominals, and at the same time is fun. Marisa became obsessed with hula-hooping so much that she decided to shoot a workout video. The video will be released by exercise video distribution company, Gaim, in May. In talking about working with Tomei on the video, Gaim shared, “the collaboration may be the catalyst to take hooping from a cottage-based industry status that has been bubbling under for a few years into a significant and new form of fitness.”

Check out Marisa Tomei talking about her love of hooping and showing off her hula skills on talkshow, Ellen:

Liv Tyler showing us how's it done...

Actress, Liv Tyler has also become a lover of the hula. In sharing how she keeps her toned physique, Tyler told Britain’s The Sunday Times Style magazine,”I recently got a hula hoop and I've been living in Los Angeles. I put my favourite song on and stand outside and hula hoop in every direction until the song is over and I'm all out of breath. It's really fun”.

Michelle Obama, not even breaking a sweat

Hula-hooping hasn’t only struck a chord with actresses, but even first ladies. First lady, Michelle Obama showed of her hula-hooping skills last fall when she hosted a Healthy Kids Fair on the White House South Lawn. With hopes of promoting healthy lifestyle choices amongst Americans, she exhibited how easy and fun working out can with something as simple as a hula-hoop.

Is hula-hooping just a fitness fad? Philo Hagen, founder of Hooping.org says,“this whole culture has sprung up in the last few years, and there’s no reason to think it won’t continue”. His site began as a part-time gig and now has become a full-time job for Hagen. Hooping.org gets 20,000 to 40,000 unique visitors each week. Weekly meetups are also organized through the website. We at Swide, agree with Hagen in that hula is here to stay. Now, go and pick up a hula-hoop and jirate your hips into shape.

Soures: NY Times & Sunday Times Style

Photo credit: NY Daily News, Honeysquad, PR News Photo, Getty