A hula hooping event is being held in Qualicum Beach today in hopes of bringing smiles to children’s faces around the world.
Cora Schiller, owner of Shasta Hoop Fitness is putting on a World Hoop Day fundraiser at the Qualicum Beach Community Hall November 11, from 1 to 3 p.m.
She said her event is one of thousands going on around the world to raise money so hoop supplies can be purchased for under privileged children in impoverished places around the globe.
There is a $5 entry fee for the not for profit event and a $2 charge to rent a hula hoop.
Hoops are available on a first come first serve basis and you are encouraged to bring your own hoop if you have one.
Schiller said all money raised will be used to take hoop making supplies to a refugee camp in Thailand.
The materials will be delivered in January and February by some friends of Schiller who will be traveling to the region with some circus performers.
“They will be spending time with the children bringing them joy and movement.”
Schiller said she has been hooping for over three years and she believes the movement is growing by leaps and bounds.
“I compare it to the peace movement of the ‘60s. The hooping movement is all about fun and it is growing because it is for everybody.”
She said kids start to hoop as early as age two and while some people think of the hula hoop as a child’s toy, it turns out adults love using it and the health benefits from hooping are numerous.
Aside from the mood enhancing effects of exercise in general, the hypnotic motion of the hoop can inspire a sense of well being. Mental acuity also increases as the brain learns to manipulate the body in order to maintain the motion of the hoop.
“It works the left and right hemisphere of the brain,” Schiller stated, adding “The health benefits from hooping are profound.”
World Hoop Day, which started in 2005, is a registered non-profit organization that supplies hoop ambassadors with funding and hula hoops to distribute to schools, villages and camps around the world.
Hundreds of cities around the world participate in events supporting the organization whose vision is to engage hula hoopers on every continent in every major city by December, 2012.
reporter@pqbnews.com