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Music Therapy and Hula Hooping: A Surprising Combination

Music Therapy and Hula Hooping: A Surprising Combination

by | Collaborating Therapies, Hula Hooping

The practice of music therapy has been shown to provide a wide range of benefits for individuals struggling with emotional, cognitive, and physical challenges. From improving communication skills to alleviating anxiety and depression, music therapy has proven to be a highly effective method of promoting healing and well-being.

Hula Hooping with Music Therapy

Another activity that has gained popularity in recent years for its therapeutic benefits is hula hooping. This simple activity involves moving the body in a rhythmic fashion, often to music, while twirling a hoop around one’s waist, arms, and legs. What many people may not realize is that combining hula hooping with music therapy can produce an even more powerful therapeutic effect.

Physical benefits

The rhythmic, repetitive motion of hula hooping can promote relaxation and stress relief, while the act of coordinating body movements with the hoop can help improve physical coordination. Moreover, incorporating music into this activity provides an extra layer of sensory stimulation, helping individuals to focus and engage more fully with the therapeutic process.

Mental Health Benefits

For individuals with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or even chronic pain, this combination of music therapy and hula hooping can provide a unique and effective way to promote healing and well-being. It is a testament to the power of combining multiple forms of therapy and harnessing the benefits of each to create a holistic approach to care.

Working Together Across Therapy

As the field of music therapy continues to evolve and expand, it is exciting to see how other forms of therapy can be combined to create new and innovative approaches to healing. The combination of music therapy and hula hooping is just one example of how different forms of therapy can work together to promote wellness and enrich people’s lives.

Holistic Wellness Programs

Hula hooping and music therapy can both be incorporated into a comprehensive wellness program.

Hula hooping is an excellent form of cardio exercise that improves coordination, balance, and core strength. It can be included in a fitness or movement-based component of the wellness program. Hula hooping can also be a fun activity that boosts mood and reduces stress.

Music therapy can be included in the mental health and emotional wellbeing component of the wellness program. Music therapy is a research-based practice that promotes emotional liberation, expression, and connection through musical experiences. It can be beneficial for managing anxiety, depression, addiction, and other mental health conditions.

Combining hula hooping and music therapy could create a holistic wellness program that addresses both physical and emotional health. Participants can engage in hula hooping while listening to music, which can boost their mood, energy, and motivation. Music therapists can also develop programs that incorporate hula hooping movements and rhythms into music therapy sessions. The combination of hula hooping and music can be an effective and enjoyable way to improve overall wellness.

Research

According to research, there is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of hula hooping and music therapy in improving overall wellness. More needs to be researched and documented about the combination of music therapy and hula hooping.

Hula Hoop Studies

However, there are several studies have been conducted on the benefits of hula hooping for physical fitness and wellness. Here are some examples:

1. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research in 2011 found that hula hooping can be an effective cardiovascular workout, improving heart rate and oxygen consumption.

2. Another study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health in 2015 found that regular hula hooping can improve core strength, flexibility, and balance.

3. A study published in PLOS One in 2016 found that hula hooping can be beneficial for reducing waist circumference and improving overall body composition.

4. A study published in the Journal of Sport Science and Medicine in 2018 found that hula hooping can be a fun and effective way to improve aerobic fitness and muscular endurance.

5. A study published in the Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness in 2019 found that hula hooping can also improve hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and cognitive function.

Studies in Music Therapy & Physical Goals

1. Pain Management: A meta-analysis of 4 studies published in Pain Management Nursing showed that music therapy significantly reduced pain levels in adult patients.

2. Cardiovascular Health: A study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing found that music therapy reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety in patients with heart disease.

3. Movement Disorders: A study published in the Journal of Music Therapy found that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), a type of music therapy, improved walking speed and balance in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

4. Surgery Recovery: A meta-analysis of 7 studies published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews showed that music therapy significantly reduced postoperative pain, anxiety, and use of pain medication in adult patients.

5. Breathing Disorders: A study published in the Journal of Music Therapy found that music therapy improved respiratory function and reduced anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Overall, these studies suggest that hula hooping can offer a range of physical and cognitive benefits for individuals looking to improve their fitness and wellness. And the research in music therapy on a variety of physical and physiological goals is amazing! With all of that, it appears that incorporating hula hooping with music therapy is an exciting area of work, and can really help with individuals’ needs in the areas of physical wellness and mental health.

References
This blog post was partly written with the assistance of AI.

Little Kids – Be a Joyful Hooper

Little Kids – Be a Joyful Hooper

by | Hula Hooping, Session Plans

boy hula hooping with orange shirt and yellow pants

Song Suggestions:

“Beauty and the Beast” by Jordin Sparks
“Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid
“Fly to Your Heart” by Selena Gomez
“Ike La Ladana” by George Winston

Length:  1.5 hours                     Age of Group::  Adults
Materials:

•      10 hoops and 5 hoops ready for sale

 Objectives – Student will be:  

•      Introduced to the concept of hooping

•      Find small successes that they CAN hoop!

 

Objectives – Moves Covered:

•      Basic waist hooping, Saving the Hoop

•      Hip hooping

•      Turning and walking
New Terminology:

•      Hooping/hula hooping

•      Current

•      Basic Breaks

•      T-Rex Hands

•      Turning

 Energy Focus:

•      Playful

•      Build confidence through identifying small successes

•      Make connections

•      Casual and comfortable

 

Time Line Introduction

Warm-ups, stretching, introduction to each other
15 minutes •      Greet students at the door. Have them sign the waiver, fill out the sign-up sheet, make any payments needed and them direct them to sit down for the opening demonstration.

•      Introduce myself to the class and share my hoop story.

•      3-5 minute hoop dance performance and demo to music to inspire.

•      Recap my story to stress that anyone can learn to hoop.

•      Introduce the history of how hoop dance began. Explain and demo the difference between kids hoops and these hoops, and why they help.

•      Opening Circle:  Play the Prop Toss Name Game – Go around the room and have everyone share their name and small bit of info about themselves.

•      Icebreaker Activity: After all names introduced, give the group a small ball to roll back and forth. Whoever has the prop must say the name of someone in the group and then pass it to them…until everyone has a turn. This gives them a chance to solidify everyone’s name in the group in their minds.
 

 

15 minutes

 

 Warm-Ups

•      Bean Bag Toss – Skills developed: gradually challenging and have fun!

•      Materials: a medium sized hula hoop and bean bags

•      The group stands at one end of the room.

•      A hula hoop is on the floor in front of the group about 5 feet to start.

•      Have them each throw 3-5 beanbags.

•      Push the hula hoop farther away for each round, gradually making the game more challenging.

 
5 minutes Stretching

•      In the background, play, “Beauty and the Beast” by Jordin Sparks.

•      Standing: Rolling the shoulders, arm stretches across front and over the head, neck rolls, side stretch to each side by leaning over at the waist and reaching the opposite arm over your head. Circling the ankles, touching the toes, and then a lunge to stretch the calves.

•      Shake the body out and make a silly noise!
 

 

 

30 minutes

 Body

•      Introduce what will be covered in class, giving a short demo of the moves planned.

•      Waist Hooping – Have them practice both currents. Finding out which one feels more comfortable. Maintaining and saving the hoop. Invite them to drop the hoop and then try to save it.

•      Hip Hooping – Focus on rotating the pelvic region.

•      Walking – Have them walk around the room in a circle.

•      Dipping the Hands into the Hoop – While still walking in the circle, say, “Take a look at our hands!” Most people will be in a T-Rex mode. Mention the term and ask them to raise their arms, move them in space and explore moving their wrists. Then demonstrate how to dip into the hoop.

•      Turning: Same direction and Stalls.

•      Basic Breaks and Reversals on the body.

•      Playing Catch-Use a bouncy ball and have students waist hoop and move freely around the room focusing on throwing and catching the ball between each other.
10 minutes Break

Time for snacks, water, bathroom breaks and chatting. Take hoop orders during this time.
5 minutes After Break Hoop Jam

Play: “Cupid Shuffle” by Cupid, to bring up the energy after the break. Song has directions to the left and right, turning, kicking and walking with the hoop.
15 minutes Closure

•      Review moves covered

•      Review new definitions

•      Open the floor for questions

•      Go around the circle and ask each student to describe their experience with one word.

 
5 minutes Closing Hoop Jam

•      Play: “Fly to Your Heart” by Selena Gomez. This song is positive, encouraging, but not too upbeat.

•      Hoop along with the moves students were taught.
5 minutes Cool Down

•      Play: “Ike La Ladana” by George Winston

•      Standing: Front thigh stretch by holding the foot, lunges to the front to stretch the calves and lunges to the side. Side stretch to each side by leaning over the waist and reaching the opposite arm over head. Neck rolls, rolling shoulders, and arm stretches across the front and behind the head.

•      Sitting: Touching the toes, butterfly sitting, back twist, hip opener.

•      Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise if time permits.

•      Closing Circle: Thank everyone for participating and mention that each of them is on their way into their own hoop dance journey. Hand out the trick breakdown sheets for this week and dismiss class. Tie up loose ends as people pack up, collecting any remaining payments, taking hoop orders, etc.

•      Provide each student with a Progress Chart Handout or email it now that you have everyone’s email:)