By Kim Newberry, YourHub Contributor

Hey, what's all the hoopla in Memorial Park? Is the circus holding auditions? Is it gymnastics practice? Is it a party? Or is it some new alternative way to generate electricity? Nah. It's just the regular group of hula hoopers out for their daily spin.

"Hoop Master" Shelly Duardi leads the Memorial Park hoopers most days from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. It's an informal workout, and anyone is invited to come.

"Switch directions! Okay, now sprint hoop as fast as you can for one minute!" she yells.

She teaches everything from beginning basics to using multiple hoops at once. She always has extra hoops for newcomers to try during the workout. She says, "I'm going to be out here anyway, so I might as well help other folks learn too. It truly is something that almost anyone can do."

Hooping is the latest fitness craze to sweep the nation. Hula hooping offers both cardiovascular and strength training, primarily targeting the abdominal, back and oblique muscles.

Part sports equipment, part toy, professional exercise hoops are much larger and heavier than the flimsy kid-sized plastic hula hoops that many of us had years ago. But they are still as much fun. Sara Keller, owner of Hula Chix, a local business that sells custom adult hoops in personalized sizes, weights, and colors, explains, "When placed vertically on the ground, a hoop should reach somewhere between your belly button and chest. Larger hoops are easier for beginners since they are slower. When you are ready to hoop faster, go for a smaller hoop."

She also notes that some folks find it easier to keep a heavier hoop going, while others prefer a lightweight ring. She also varies the external materials according to the amount of grip or slickness one prefers.

And no, she says, hula hooping is not just for women and kids. "Plenty of guys are hooping now. I'm filling lots of orders for men who request heavier hoops in masculine colors," says Keller.

Indeed, in the Memorial Park group, hoops spin around male and female tummies of all sizes and ages. But those tummies are all steadily slimming. The average hooper I spoke to has lost three pants sizes since beginning hooping. In fact, the group has a proud tradition of passing pants up to others as members lose their bellies.

But hooping isn't necessarily strenuous. For Trina MacHardy, hooping offers low-impact therapy to help in her healing from brain injury. She enjoys the gentle massaging action of the hoop on her back and the minimal motion required for a good workout. "It's a great activity for older people or those with injuries." And, as she points out, "The cool thing about a hula hoop is that you can't poke your eye out with it."

Maria McGill, one of many local business owners who joins the Memorial Park group on her lunch break, hoops for stress relief. "It's just an effortless way to lose weight. Plus, it brings back a few childhood memories," she says.

There is something exciting about twenty brightly colored hula hoops twirling in time with groovy music. As I watched them, I noticed that some of the gals hooped in a straight style with barely perceptible movement. Others got funky with moves that resembled belly dancing. Some of the gals jammed alone with their ipods, seeming to use their hoops to assert their personal space. Others gabbed with girlfriends, hooped, and strolled along the park, all at the same time.

Teenage kids hooped next to senior citizens. Some hoopers wore sneakers, some were barefoot, and one was even in high heels. Some women came with their mothers. Some moms brought their young children. Laurell Lummis even brought her pet parrot, who watched from a nearby tree. The only two things that all of these hoopers seemed to have in common were a brightly colored hoop and a smile.

If you'd like to try hooping, anyone is invited to join the Manitou hoopers every afternoon in Memorial Park, conditions permitting. No experience is necessary, and you can borrow a hoop from Shelly to see whether or not hooping is for you.

Or, if you prefer hooping in the evenings, Manitou Springs School District 14 Community Education is offering hooping classes at Manitou Springs Middle School Commons from 5:00 to 6:00 on Tuesdays from October 9 to November 13. Workouts will include use of both a waist hoop and lightweight arm hoops provided by Hula Chix. The class costs $75 and includes one oversized hoop to take home. For more information, call MSSD 14 at 685-2003.

To get your hoop on anywhere, you can find adult sized Hula Chix hoops at Play It Again Sports in Colorado Springs, online at www.hulachix.com or by calling 1-888-HULA-GAL. For custom kid hoops, contact Hoopdydoo Creations at 719-684-2319 or www.hoopdydoo.com. Hoopdydoo kid hoops can be found at Retro Moto Toys in Manitou Springs, Mountain Moppets in Old Colorado City, or A Wise Child in Woodland Park.

Happy hooping!