A new hit among the young – hula hoop aerobics

A person uses a hundred calories in only 10 minutes. It is good for meditation while activating all the body muscles. It is excellent for cardio-system. It improves coordination and is fun at the same time. This sounds like a dreamlike activity but it is real and you can try it at Zagreb Velesajam. The activity is called “hula hoop aerobics” and the name was given by a young couple Eva Pozar-Kardum and Kristijan Kardum who give workshops. The whole thing was organized by the association called “Sretni”. The ring that we used to play with when we were children has become the main piece of sporting equipment.

Individual approach

The first thing to do is to learn the basic elements. Even if you have never tried, you can learn how to throw the ring in the air, how to move, run, lift and get the ring back. After that, all the other elements are integrated into the whole. While practicing this, you laugh a lot and get in shape so it is a kind of aerobics – says Eva, who discovered hula hoop five years ago as a grown-up person.

The good aspects of using hula hoop were known even in ancient Greece where they used it for doing exercise. The Americans made it popular again some 10 years ago.

-  You play with it and fight with yourself when learning new moves. Your whole body wants you to do something new – Eva explains why hula hoop is so adorable.  

- This is the only workshop of this kind in Croatia. The whole training is based upon individual approach so there are no more than five people in a group. The workshops are attended mainly by women who come to do exercise and stay because it turns to be also the laughing therapy.

- It’s like psychotherapy to me. We laugh a lot and I sometimes stay here for hours – says Brankica Kopcalic who came to learn hula hoop several months ago. She wanted to show the skill to her four-year-old daughter Arwen.

- When I first came here I wasn’t able to hold a ring. I thought I would never learn how to spin it around. Thanks to their persistence I have become almost an expert – Brankica says.

Business secret

The Kardums produce their own hula hoops using special techniques. Every ring has a 1- year guarantee and they send them by post throughout Croatia. They don’t want to say exactly what material they use for producing hula hoops.

- It’s a business secret – they say smilingly.