As many of you might have guessed, Powerhoop is an exercise class using a weighted fitness hoop. The weight and large diameter of the hoop makes it easier to learn (even if you’ve never been able to hula hoop before). Did you know that hooping provides balanced, symmetrical training to the core muscles, which helps maintain spinal stability and alignment? It challenges your balance apparatus, significantly improving your balance and stability.
Research has shown that regular exercise with a Powerhoop improves posture and muscle tone and many class members report inch loss within a short space of time.
Martial arts experts talk about building a “body armour” in order to withstand kicks and punches from one’s opponent. Body armour improves the body’s ability to withstand “perturbations” (meaning the ability to quickly recover and arrest a fall or survive a fall), which is the hallmark of basic athleticism. However, it is important to find ways of building body armour without wearing out the spine and disks, which is why hooping is a great solution to do strength training that doesn’t involve repetitive lifting, twisting or bending, which may not be ideal for everyone.
The waves on the inner surface of the Powerhoop creates a pulse flicking the muscles with each revolution. This stimulates the muscles causing them to activate and build ‘body armour’ without wearing out the spine or spinal discs.
Our balance starts to decline as early as in our 40’s. Poor balance is one, if not THE leading cause of trips and falls. Improving our balance through a range of exercises such as Yoga, Pilates and muscle conditioning classes are vital in slowing the decline. Powerhoop is another form of exercise that can help maintain and even improve your balance.
A good time! Powerhoop is a hugely fun activity that almost doesn’t feel as if you are working out. The lively music and choreography combined with ‘hula hooping’ makes for an entertaining 45-minute workout.
Powerhoop classes are choreographed to alternate between waist hooping tracks and Muscle Strength & Conditioning (MSC) tracks where the weighted hoop is used as an aid to perform other exercises such as squats, lunges, chest press and tricep curls meaning a Powerhoop class provides a full body workout!
Keep an eye out on our timetable for this class coming soon on October 21st.
Delve beneath the surface (literally) to explore the fascinating world of microbiomes with Peigin Crowley, founder of Ground Wellbeing
Plan a romantic weekend in the New Forest at Lime Wood. Just under two hours from London, this laid-back luxury countryside escape offers serene spa time, forest walks, candlelit dining, and cosy hideaway rooms designed for two.
We sat down with Functional Medicine practitioner Gemma McGuigan ahead of her workshops with us here at Lime Wood to talk all things perimenopause and menopause, from the signs many women overlook to simple lifestyle shifts that can ease symptoms and support long-term health.
