YogaKids classes promote fun, fitness, and feeling good in a non-competitive setting. As a YogaKids teacher, I am always looking for new ways to keep all my students active and engaged. I love adding hula hoops to class!
Hula-hooping is a great way to improve balance, coordination, and core strength. While not all children can pick up the action of hula-hooping right away, there are many ways to get all students involved without anyone getting frustrated.
Here are some ideas to make hula-hoops a fun part of your YogaKids class:
Poses As Pathways: History of the Hula-Hoop!
Share with your class the history of the hula-hoop! The hula-hoop of today became a craze in the 1950s. However, the idea came about around 1000 BC by Ancient Egyptian children who made hoop toys out of dried grape vines. The hoop idea traveled through many cultures and time periods. In 1958, the founders of the Wham-O Company introduced today’s hula- hoop to America. They were inspired by stories of Australian children and bamboo hoops. Americans loved this craze. The Wham-O Company sold an estimated 25 million Hula Hoops in 2 months!
Add a Hula-Hoop to YogaKids Poses!
Try doing the following sequence of poses with a hula-hoop. Children can use the hoop in any way that is safe – traditional hooping around the hips, arms, or neck. They can also try holding the pose with the hoop lifted above the head or off to the side to gain upper body strength.
- Om a Little Teapot Triangle
- Flamingo
- Tree
Play a Hula-Hoop Game!
Pass the Hoop: Stand in a circle. Hold hands with a hula-hoop on one person’s shoulder. Try to get the hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands. Add a second hoop going in the other direction to make it more challenging.
Up, Over, and Through the Hoop: Children form a single file line. Child in front holds the hoop, lifts it up, and does a backbend to get it over the child behind them. The 2nd child steps through the hoop and continues with the backbend. Once the hoop is passed, the child goes to the back of the line for another turn.
Hoop Yoga Pose Course: Place hoops around the room and a pose card near each one. Children have to move from hoop to hoop performing the poses. Get creative and have students try a favorite pose with the hoop.
Venn Diagram: Searching for Similarities: Partner up students. Prior to class, take index cards and write down one discussion point on each card on a variety of subjects (i.e. Plays Soccer, Has a Dog, Likes Pizza, Eats Sushi, Has Traveled out of the Country, etc.)
Each student has a hula-hoop and a set of index cards. Set the hoops on the ground. The hula-hoops will overlap in the middle. The students place the cards in just their hoop if it only applies to them. Any cards that indicate similarities for both kids go in the middle where the 2 hoops overlap. Try to make unlikely pairs of students; this is a great activity for kids who don’t normally get to spend time together!
Musical Musings: Play Hula-Hoop Tunes!
Add these fun hula hoop themed songs to your class:
- Hula Hoop to da Loop by Keller Williams
- Hula Hoop by Octopretzel
- Hula Hoop Soup by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
- Loop de Loop by Buckwheat Zydeco