Happy Hooping

Vital Stats

Emily B

Chicago, IL

people helped25
People Doing It15

The Problem

College stress can be crippling to a successful academic career. Stress from classes, work, relationships, and extracurricular activities can attribute to weight gain, depression, anxiety, and other mood changes. Because of tight schedules, it's difficult for students to make time for a gym or recreational activity. Therefore, I am trying to bring hoop dance to students in my community. Hoop dancing burns up to 600 calories an hour. A 30 minute workout just three or four times a week can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. Having an enjoyable way to exercise is really important for students who are pressed for time or aren't athletic. Hoop dance also helps builds confidence and relieve stress, making it a wellness experience for the entire body. I'm hoping that through hoop dance, students can live more healthily.

Plan of Action

I have started a hula hooping club at my university where I teach hoop dance. My university already offers a Zumba class, and I am working with the fitness director to get funding for hula hooping classes to be added to the curriculum. Until then, I am teaching small groups how to hoop dance with the goal of choreographing routines for group workouts. At the start of the semester, I brought extra hula hoops to campus and did demonstrations on the sidewalk. I had many students try it out, and I received positive feedback about how enjoyable they found it and how they would like to continue. I am hoping to have multiple classes each week by the end of the academic year.