Each week, we'll be highlighting a different Active Group from around RVA – this week's group is Hoopin and Groovin, a vibrant hula hoop fitness class in western Henrico.

By: RaShauna Hobbs

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Coming up on the one-year anniversary of teaching her dynamic class, Stacy Abbott has created a different way to have fun while working out.

Hoopin and Groovin is a small, focused group of women taught by Stacy using the hula hoop to work out in an intimate setting. While at first thought the hula hoop is not considered a rigorous exercise tool, working with it in Stacy’s one-hour class can help you burn up to 450 calories.

“It incorporates dance with off-body and on-body movements,” said Stacy. “It’s a total body workout that will definitely tone your core.”

The best part about the hoop class is that it can be a family activity, with the youngest all the way up to grandma and great grandma participating together. With neon yellow, lime green and shiny silvers the hoops are a visual cue by themselves.

Add an upbeat pop song, constant motion, and a little laughter and you have just about filled the room at Mom’s Treehouse in Henrico where classes are held. While the most basic motion makes you really focus on moving your hips, you will be sure to have the hoop around your arms, hands, and chest throughout the class.

There’s definitely no secret that a little coordination would be helpful but Stacy is great at helping the beginners really master the craft, but it will take a little hard work to improve – and Stacy offers simple yet effective advice to beginners that want to keep up with the vibrant class: “Practice, practice, practice.”

Taking the Hoopin and Groovin class is like hanging out with a group of your best friends and as Stacy says, “It is a process but it is so much fun.”

For more information on Hoopin and Groovin classes please visit www.hoopinandgroovin.com.