Instead of toil in the gym Koos Angélica Roborgh (67) from Rosmalen eight years ago for hula hoops. Every day for ten minutes of hooping, she earned her so much that she has been giving sessions to everyone who wants to learn it for years. “I feel so much fitter and I wish everyone,” she says swinging.
With a broad smile, Angélica waves the hoop around her hips. It looks effortless, but she remembers exactly how that went in the beginning. “I had to pick up that hoop thousands of times,” laughs the 67-year-old from Rosmalen now. “After two months of practice it really worked.”
Eight years ago she started it because she wanted to feel fitter. “My brother said teasingly that I got a belly. Well, of course I didn’t want that.” She decides to go to the gym and do abdominal exercises. “After months I saw no result,” she says. Until a friend comes up with the idea to go hoop. “I thought why not. Trying is always possible.”
“I will never go to the gym again.”
And that turned out to be a hit. “After two months I spent four centimeters at my waist. My condition got better, I became more smoother and even my ‘chicken fillets’ disappeared under the arms,” says Angélica proudly, showing how you can also train with the hoop around your arms.
Every day she hides about ten minutes. According to her, that equals half an hour of running in terms of combustion. “But hooping is not only much nicer, it is also less stressful for your body.” It also helps to strengthen abdominal and back muscles, and also of the legs and buttocks. “That’s why I will never go to the gym again.”
“I wish everyone the benefits that I have experienced myself.”
She has been sharing the pleasure she experiences it with others for over eight years. “I wish everyone the benefits I have experienced,” she says. Twice a week she is therefore on the sand drift in Rosmalen with dozens of hoops. Everyone can join: young, old, sporty or not.
“At the peak, thirty people were hiding here at the same time. Sometimes I am alone, but I don’t mind. People have to do it alone if they really want to learn how to hoop.”
José from Culemborg joins on Wednesday afternoon. It is her first time and the hoop falls on the floor time and time again. She sighs for a moment, but Angélica encourages her: “That’s how I started. The only thing you need is a hoop and perseverance.”
Children also participate. Joy (13) happened to come by with her mother and since then it has not been left at the hoops for three years. “In the beginning I didn’t succeed at all, but now I can even do tricks,” she says radiantly. She shows how she turns with two hoops at the same time and balances on a tree trunk while the hoop continues to turn around her waist. Angélica watches satisfied: “The best thing is that everyone can learn it.”
Those who feel like participating can go to the sand drift every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon between 3 and 4 pm Rosmalen.
