What if your hula hoop could do more than just spin around your body? What if it could actually rewire your brain? Enter neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s incredible ability to form new neural connections and adapt its function in response to experiences. It’s what allows us to learn new skills, form memories, and even recover from injury.
Neuroplasticity works by creating and strengthening connections between neurons. Every time you repeat a skill, the connections involved get stronger, making it easier and more natural over time.
You see where I am going with this? Hooping isn’t only a workout for your body, it’s also a workout for your brain.
Coordination, balance, and brain power
When you pick up a hula hoop, you’re not just moving in circles. You’re challenging your coordination, timing, and balance. Every time you learn a new trick, transition, or flow pattern, your brain is laying down fresh pathways and strengthening old ones.
Hooping also encourages bilateral coordination, meaning both sides of your body (and brain) are engaged. Whether you’re switching from left to right, changing directions, or exploring off body moves, you’re giving your brain a cross hemisphere workout. That back and forth firing helps boost flexibility in your thinking as well as your movement.
Here’s the best part. The more you engage in activities that spark neuroplasticity, the easier it becomes for your brain to adapt in other areas of life. Learning, problem solving, and even emotional regulation can all get a boost when your brain is used to rewiring itself.
Why hula hooping is perfect for building new neural pathways
Hula hooping demands balance, coordination, rhythm, and continuous adjustment. Every wobble of the hoop sends sensory feedback to your brain, which quickly decides how to respond. Engage your core, shift your weight, adjust your timing. All this back and forth between body and brain is what drives neuroplasticity.
Researchers studying activities like dance, balance training, and other rhythmic full body movements have found that they can lead to measurable changes in the brain. From increased gray matter to improved connectivity between brain regions. Hula hooping shares many of the same elements, so it can tap into these benefits too.
When I say you’re never too old to start hooping, I mean it. A 2021 study looked at adults over 60 who joined a six month dance program. By the end, not only had their balance and coordination improved, but brain scans showed stronger connections between the major networks responsible for focus, memory, and decision-making. These physical changes in the brain were directly linked to improvements in attention, focus, and higher-level thinking skills.
But, that’s dance – what’s that got to do with hula hooping?
Well, hula hooping is a lot like dancing. It combines rhythm, balance, coordination, and continuous learning. In class we learn combos, and routines – we DANCE (for those who want or need to, and those who don’t…well, they just focus on the tricks and combos). Every time you keep the hoop spinning, adjust your posture, or master a new trick, your brain is engaging in the same kinds of processes these researchers studied.
Just as dance creates stronger brain connections in older adults, hooping can spark similar neuroplastic changes at any age.
How to maximise the brain benefits of hula hooping
All this research clearly shows that no matter our age, or ability, moving and learning new skills helps our brains grow.
Here are some ways you can take advantage of your brain’s neuroplasticity and move into your big brain era:
- Vary your hooping – learn new tricks, change directions, play with speeds, try different sized hoops
- Turn the music up – where possible incorporate rhythm into your movement
- Focus attention – be mindful of your posture, other sensory feedback
- Consistency and dedication – commit to your practise, make it part of your daily or weekly routine
- Challenge your balance – walk while hooping or stand on one leg
- Play games – set yourself mini challenges or improvise to keep your brain guessing
While there’s little direct study on hooping itself, it’s fair to assume that lots of the benefits of similar activities would have a similar impact on our brains. Any scientists out there that want to study hula hoopers?
Until then, you don’t need a lab coat to get results. Your hoop is your research tool, and your brain is the experiment. Pick up a hoop, spin it, and feel the joy of building a stronger, more agile brain with every revolution.