When I first heard about hula hooping as a trend, I reacted the same way a lot of people do: "come again?"

It was this spring when I heard about people working out with a hula hoop. Skeptical that hooping could be a real workout, I started looking for Southern hoopers.

What I found lead to the story that is in the November Southern Living (p. 122) -- "Hooping For Health." The story is about East Nashville resident Sunny Becks Crumpton who teaches women of all ages to get fit, relieve stress and have fun with hula hoops. Yep, like the kind we played with as kids.

I visited Sunny at her studio Hooprama, where I learned that yes, hooping is most definitely a workout. I was amazed to watch hoopers of all ages -- from their 20s through their 60s -- move the plastic circles up and down and around their bodies, twisting and twirling to the booming music. They told me their stories about how hooping helped them lose weight, strengthen their core, and de-stress. Plus it was clear that these women were having a great time. And I know myself -- if a workout isn't fun, I am not going to do it.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on a hoop and try it for myself.

It took a couple of tries -- the hoop seemed so big compared to the ones I played with growing up. (Adult size hoops are actually easier to use -- they stay up thanks to the laws of physics. But it still takes work. A lot of it.)

Sunny explained how there are two basic hooping stances: side to side and front to back. Once I found my groove, I started to gain confidence. This wasn't so difficult, I thought, which would be right around the time I'd get out of sync and boom, the hoop dropped to the floor. So much for progressing to the more advanced tricks out of the gate.

Hoopers say this and it's true -- the repetitive motion of the hoop can be calming, almost Zen like. (OK, I wasn't exactly being enlightened out on the floor but it was relaxing once I got the swing of it.) I took my hoop home and started practicing in my backyard, and got a child's size hoop for my 3 year old.

When I asked Sunny how much time a hooper should practice every day she said that her advice is just to put on one great song and hoop through it. If you're having fun, try another, and another. The advice works -- once I put on my music there's no stopping me. The neighbors are probably tired of hearing The BeeGees blasting from my iPod speakers.

Now hooping has become a part of my routine. Nothing is better than getting home from work and hooping off the cares of the work day. Other times, when I make a long distance call to a friend I go outside and get into the hooping groove, burning calories while catching up.

My tricks are still pretty basic -- I've done my share of throwing the hoop across the backyard on more than one occasion as I try to move it from hand to hand, above my head, and other variations that when done right are super cool. My moves may be laughable, but they are fun, burn calories, and make me laugh. And in my world of Healthy Living, that's what it's all about.

Wanna try hooping for yourself? Check out the story and these resources:

Hooping.org -- This site contains everything you need, from learning the basic moves to starting your own hoop group (they're popping up all over the place!)

Hooprama Blog -- Sunny's blog about all things hooping

Hoopnatica -- Hooping and hoop dance resources, including instructional DVDs

And this video:

Let me know how it goes -- I want to hear from my fellow Southern hoopers!